A Newcomer’s Guide to the Swedenborgian World
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) never founded a church. Readers of his books organized themselves after his death, and the result today is a small but genuinely global family of denominations, publishers, schools, museums, and online communities. This page is a starting point for finding your way home.
Denominations
The “New Church” is a family of related organizations, not one institution. The four main bodies differ in governance, theology, and tone. Each maintains its own directory of local congregations.
The oldest American body (organized 1817). Congregational in governance, theologically liberal. It ordained its first woman minister in 1975 and first openly gay minister in 1997. Affiliated with the Center for Swedenborgian Studies (seminary, Berkeley, CA), Almont and Fryeburg summer assemblies, and congregations across the U.S. and Canada.
50 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 · (617) 969-4240
Find a congregation swedenborg.orgCentered in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania (formed 1897). More traditional; regards Swedenborg’s writings as divine revelation. Governed by bishops. International, with its largest membership concentrations now in Africa. Oversees the Academy of the New Church, Bryn Athyn College, Glencairn Museum, and New Church Live.
P.O. Box 743 / 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 · (267) 502-4911
Find a church newchurch.orgOffers weekly online Zoom worship (Sundays 3:30 p.m. UK), free mailed home-worship packs, youth camps (ages 9+), and family weekends. Events held at the Purley Chase Centre in Warwickshire.
Purley Chase Centre, Purley Chase Lane, Mancetter, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 2RQ, UK
generalconference.org.ukA small body (approximately 1,500 members worldwide) with congregations in the United States (Bryn Athyn), South Africa, Lesotho, the Netherlands, Sweden, Croatia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Emphasizes an inner, spiritual reading of Swedenborg’s writings.
1725 Huntingdon Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 · (215) 947-6845
thelordsnewchurch.comApproximate worldwide membership across all denominations: 50,000 (per the World Religions and Spirituality Project, Virginia Commonwealth University). Figures are imprecise and sources conflict.
Congregations
Each denomination’s directory has the full list. The entries below are either widely visited landmarks, online-first options, or helpful regional starting points.
Online worship and community
Weekly livestreamed worship, Sundays 10:30 a.m. Eastern, from the Mitchell Performing Arts Center in Bryn Athyn, PA. An accessible, online-first option.
An online spiritual community exploring Swedenborg’s writings and interfaith mysticism, with discussions, resources, and supportive connections for seekers of every background.
Free online spiritual groups via Zoom throughout the week, including meditation, grief support, a women’s check-in, and weekly discussion of Swedenborg and Life episodes.
North America
900 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 · (215) 947-6225. Worships at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral.
2107 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 · (415) 346-6468. A National Historic Landmark (built 1895, Arts and Crafts masterpiece). Livestreamed worship Sundays 11 a.m.; free docent tours Sundays 1–2 p.m.
140 Bowdoin Street, Beacon Hill, Boston, MA 02108 · (617) 523-4575.
851 W. Bristol Road, Ivyland, PA 18974 · (215) 957-9760.
Dozens of other congregations exist across the U.S. and Canada. Use the denomination directories above to find one near you.
United Kingdom and Europe
Michael Church, Stockwell, London, plus groups meeting around the UK. Rev. Grant Odhner, National Pastor.
View UK locationsTegnérlunden 7, 111 61 Stockholm. Also covers the Jönköping Circle.
Africa
Africa is home to some of the largest concentrations of Swedenborgians in the world, mostly affiliated with the General Church.
Coordinating body for societies, circles, and groups across southern Africa, including Alexandra, Diepkloof, Clermont, Kwa Mashu, Enkumba, Impaphala, Empangeni, Balfour, and Cape Town.
36 Perth Road, Westville, Durban 3629, KwaZulu-Natal. Co-located with Kainon School.
Buccleuch, Sandton, Gauteng. Sunday worship 9:30 a.m., livestreamed.
The General Church in Cote d’Ivoire, with congregations in Abidjan (multiple), Bouaké, Daloa, Divo, and Duekoue. French-language.
Additional congregations in Ghana (Accra, Tema, Madina, and others), Nigeria (Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Obunagha), Kenya (Kisii), Benin, and Togo. For contacts, reach the General Church through newchurch.org/contact.
Asia and Oceania
Seoul. Sunday school 10 a.m., worship 11 a.m. Publishes The Eternal Gospel magazine and Korean editions of Swedenborg’s writings. Visitors welcome.
Additional groups in India (Cochin, Kerala), the Philippines, and New Zealand. Contact the SCNA or the New Church in Australia for current information.
South America
New Church societies in Rio de Janeiro (Campo Grande and Fátima). Portuguese-language. Contact the General Church for current information.
Educational institutions
The New Church tradition maintains schools at every level, from elementary through seminary.
Accredited private Christian boarding and day high school. Enrollment approximately 250. Part of the Academy of the New Church (General Church), founded 1876.
Private Christian liberal-arts college, approximately 285 students. NCAA Division III. Home of the Swedenborg Library and Digital Collection.
Seminary training General Church ministers.
The seminary of the SCNA, located at the Graduate Theological Union. Teaching since 1866. Offers certificates and degree pathways.
The General Church also operates K–12 schools internationally, including Kainon School (Westville, South Africa) and theological training centers in Korea, Kenya (Kisii), Cote d’Ivoire (Abidjan), and South Africa.
Publishers, libraries, and archives
Swedenborg House, 20–21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. Founded 1810; one of the world’s oldest independent publishers. Bookshop, library, archive, museum, and cultural events in its Grade II-listed Bloomsbury home. Open Mon–Fri; library/archive by appointment.
Founded 1898. Preserves, translates, and publishes Swedenborg’s scientific and philosophical works. Publishes The New Philosophy (twice yearly).
350+ translations of Swedenborg’s works in 21 languages, plus Bible text, commentary on the inner meaning, topic explanations, and a free “Swedenborg Reader” app. An excellent first stop.
A free, searchable online library of New Church recordings: worship services, doctrinal classes, audiobooks, and special events from congregations across North America, with new material added regularly.
Museums and historic sites
1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 · (267) 502-2600. A castle-like former Pitcairn family home (built 1928–39), now a National Historic Landmark and museum of religious art and history with approximately 8,000 works. Open Tue–Sun afternoons.
900 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009. The Gothic/Romanesque episcopal seat of the General Church (built 1913–1928), built by on-site craft guilds and endowed by John Pitcairn. Welcomes visitors.
Encompasses the Cathedral, Glencairn, and Cairnwood Estate (a Beaux-Arts mansion, now an event and visitor site). Offers combined tours.
20–21 Bloomsbury Way. Museum, gallery, and cultural venue run by the Swedenborg Society. Lectures, film festivals, exhibitions.
Swedenborg’s original garden summerhouse (from his Hornsgatan property), moved to Skansen in 1896. Contains period furniture and a small organ that belonged to him. A full-scale replica stands near the original Hornsgatan site.
Swedenborg has been entombed here since 1913, alongside figures such as Linnaeus. Open to visitors.
2107 Lyon Street. An Arts and Crafts masterpiece (built 1895) and a cultural/architectural destination. Also an active SCNA congregation.
A Lloyd Wright-designed 1951 glass chapel, designated a National Historic Landmark in December 2023.
Camps, retreats, and gathering places
Founded 1899. Week-long summer family camp (July) and year-round facility rentals.
A two-week multi-generational family summer camp on the Saco River. Lectures livestreamed free.
57 wooded acres. Also home to Temenos Church (formerly the Philadelphia Swedenborgian Church).
Operating since 1983. Run by a former Puget Sound Swedenborgian minister.
Swedenborgian youth camp. Contact via the Church of the Holy City, Edmonton: (780) 475-1620.
The General Conference’s retreat and conference venue. Hosts youth camps, family weekends, and the annual meeting.
Media and online resources
154,000+ subscribers, 35 million+ views. Hosted by Curtis Childs. Weekly videos exploring Swedenborg’s ideas on the afterlife, angels, spiritual growth, and more. Series include Chasing Swedenborg, News From Heaven, and monthly live Q&A. Plus the Inside Off The Left Eye podcast and NDE Files.
A channel exploring near-death experiences through the spiritual framework Swedenborg provides. Launched 2025.
Hosted by Jonathan Rose, NCE Series Editor. Hour-long explorations of the Bible through a Swedenborgian lens, using Swedenborg’s method of correspondences to uncover inner layers of meaning. Running since 2010. Available as a podcast.
350+ translations in 21 languages, Bible commentary, topic explanations, and the free Swedenborg Reader app. Also hosts online study communities.
Free searchable library of worship services, classes, audiobooks, and events from congregations across North America.
