History

Cranaleith Spiritual Center is situated on a park-like, 10-acre property at the interface between Philadelphia and Bucks counties.

Earliest recorded history reveals that the Native American tribes of Essepanike, Swanpees, Okettarico and Wessapoet lived on the land until 1683, when they ceded it to William Penn.

In 1891, Rachel Foster Avery, a suffragette and close friend of Susan B. Anthony, purchased the property and built a large three-story stone house on the hill with windows facing out on every side and five fireplaces warming the interior.  Besides being a home for the Avery family, the house was designed to serve as a gathering place for suffragettes to plan together with Anthony when she came to Philadelphia.

Joseph C. and Wilhelminia Trainer bought the property in 1906. Reminded of the towns in Ireland from which his grandparents came, Joseph named it Cranaleith, which means “Sanctuary of Trees” in Gaelic.  Subsequently, four generations of Trainers lived in the homestead.

In 1996, before their death, Mary and Frank Trainer (son of Joseph), passed the legacy and the property on to Cranaleith Spiritual Center, a not-for-profit foundation created by the family to sponsor a ministry in partnership with the Sisters of Mercy.  Mary and Frank’s daughter, Sister Mary Trainer, has served as Cranaleith’s director since its creation.