Bryn Athyn, Pa. — For one weekend each October, the Bryn Athyn College campus bustles with events and the excitement of Charter Day, celebrating both the official charter signing in 1877 and homecoming for alumni and friends. This year, while festivities looked different than they had the previous almost century and a half due to the pandemic, spirits remained high as one of the most time-honored traditions still took place: the procession.
Students — some carrying banners of the school and country flags of our International Student Organization — as well as faculty and board members make their way on foot as a group to the Bryn Athyn Cathedral to worship together. This annual service honors the history of Bryn Athyn and the innumerable blessings yet to come through the lives of its students. Though the number of attendees was much smaller than usual to allow for social distancing, the cohesion and gratitude of our institution’s community were still present and smiles could be felt behind each other’s masks and from the viewers watching the streamed service.
Since classes are not held on the Friday of Charter Day, this gave a much-deserved break for this year’s students and professors who have each been working diligently, in-person and virtually. We hope our community is able to enjoy this well-deserved rest.
Bryn Athyn College looks forward to celebrating Charter Day events in their customary fashion, including the Alumni and Friends reception, Charter Day Banquet, reception at the Cairnwood Estate, and a golf outing fundraiser for our Student Scholarship Fund.