most beautiful christian college and university campuses in the world

Established in 1968, interdenominational Christian college Palm Beach Atlantic University benefits from a prime location close to the Atlantic Ocean in West Palm Beach, Florida. Thanks to the palm trees springing up around its Spanish Mediterranean style buildings, the university s campus arguably appears more like an attractive resort than a place of higher learning. International architectural firm Leo A. Daly took inspiration from the nice looking existing structures for the design of the college s Warren Library, which blends in through its red tiling and a facade that mixes stone and stucco. Completed in 2009, the library contains hundreds of thousands of volumes, dozens of group study rooms, a boardroom, a caf

Geneva College s campus offers students plenty of outdoor beauty, set alongside elegant architecture that dates back to the 19th century. The liberal arts college which was established in 1848 but relocated to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1880 is the sole undergraduate facility in the U.S. allied with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. At only 55 acres, Geneva College s campus may be small, but it contains enough attractive, historic structures to please the eye. Old Main, the college s grand, gray sandstone centerpiece, was designed by Pennsylvanian architect James P. Bailey. Finished in 1881, this building currently houses classrooms and the school s administration offices. Another striking campus feature is the Collegiate Gothic style McCartney Library, which was completed in 1931 and is known for its stained glass windows and conspicuous bell tower.

Canadian Mennonite University s beautiful 44 acre campus in southwest Winnipeg is lies close by the edge of the Assiniboine Forest, the wilderness within a city. Founder s Hall, the original campus building, was designed by American architect John D. Atchinson in the English Collegiate style for the 1922 opening of the Manitoba School for the Deaf. The

Point Loma Nazarene University moved to its stunning oceanfront San Diego campus in 1973. What s more, the Christian liberal arts school s setting is not only visually appealing, but also holds an intriguing past. From the turn of the 20th century to 1942, the grounds hosted Lomaland, a community dedicated to the practice of Theosophy established by Theosophical Society head Katherine Tingley. Certain of Lomaland s structures notably an outdoor Greek styled theater that was the first of its kind in North America remain features of the site today. More modern constructions at the location include the School of Theology and Christian Ministry, which wows through an impressive 400 square foot stained glass window at its entrance. This building was designed by local firm Architects Mosher Drew and was completed in 2009. As for the university itself, its roots lie in a Bible college set up in 1902 by members of the Church of the Nazarene.

Christian liberal arts school Montreat College obtained its moniker from the combination of the words

The American Baptist Churches USA affiliated Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania has a picturesque 114 acre main campus that is lush with greenery. Before the college located there in 1952, the grounds formed the estate of local leather manufacturer Charles S. Walton. Walton Hall, perhaps Eastern s most prominent building, is a converted 55 room mansion that dates to around 1913 and was designed by Philadelphia architect David Knickerbacker Boyd. The Mediterranean styled structure now serves as the university s student center, chapel and dining hall and sits right beside man made Willow Lake. Another of Eastern s longstanding icons is its beloved, recently renovated waterwheel. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Tyndale University College in Toronto, Ontario has a long, august history dating back to 1894. The campus straddles the beautiful Don River, which gives immense character to the sprawling campus. Recently accredited to offer Bachelor s of Arts degrees as well as seminary degrees, many programs are housed in the Tyndale Spiritual Formation Center (TSFC). Located on the Bayview Campus, this structure houses all religious activity for the seminary, including worship and study. This structure, though designed to look like a protestant church, features smaller chapels throughout the building to make it perfect for study and for worship. With a mixture of old brick buildings and modern designs, the entire campus provides a beautiful and spiritually enriching setting for any student.

Pepperdine University s 830 acre main Malibu campus which first welcomed budding scholars in 1972 is located in a beautiful hillside setting right next to the Pacific Ocean. Depending on their vantage point, students at this Churches of Christ affiliated research university can see Los Angles, Catalina Island or the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The campus attractively re imagined Mediterranean Revival style features prominent use of stucco and roofs with red tiling. This approach was the work of noted American architect William Pereira, who used it to accentuate Pepperdine s ocean side location. One of the college s most notable features is the Phillips Theme Tower, a 125 foot edifice that was built in 1973 and stands as a sign of the university s Christian ethos.

While the Christian Aoyama Gakuin University lies in the neon soaked, ultra flashy Shibuya municipality of Tokyo, Japan, the principal campus of the private institution is a little more refined. This is due in part to its stunning scenery and classically elegant buildings. Blooms of azaleas add color and appeal in the spring. Meanwhile, structures such as the graceful, Corinthian style Majima Memorial Hall originally constructed as a library in 1929 bring substantial beauty. The hall was even listed on Japan s National Register of Tangible Cultural Properties in 2008, as was attractive head office building Berry Hall. Aoyama Gakuin s origins hark back to the 1870s, when American missionaries from the Methodist Episcopal Church set up three schools in the area. The university itself came into being in 1949. Aoyama Gakuin also has an additional campus in Kanagawa Prefecture, with both locations together hosting close to 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Covenant College s famed seven state view from the crest of Lookout Mountain in Georgia s Appalachian hills makes it arguably among the most naturally beautiful college locations in the country. The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) liberal arts college s 400 acre campus to which it relocated in 1964, nine years after its founding is a mix of more recently constructed buildings and two others that date back to the mid and early 20th century, respectively. Carter Hall, the campus most well known building, was originally a hotel, completed in 1928, and has a Gothic Revival look. Covenant also contains the eye catching Dora Maclellan Brown Memorial Chapel a worship space that in addition serves as a fine arts performance center, features a 67 foot tall marble cross on its exterior, and boasts impressive stained glass windows. The chapel was conceived by Philadelphia based ecclesiastical architect Harold Wagoner and was finished in 1978.