Mount Pleasant is an historic and charming multipurpose venue located in a former church in rural Albert County, New Brunswick overlooking the spectacular marshes of The Shepody Bay.
Originally built as a Methodist church in 1865, there was a place of worship on this beautifully situated piece of land until 2018. Our current building has been here since 1931, after a disastrous fire destroyed the original building. Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, Canada’s 11th Prime Minister who was born in Hopewell in 1870 was also a well known philanthropist who helped finance the rebuilding of the church. It went on to serve as a place of worship in Hopewell Hill for more than another 80 years.
Shelley and Charlotte were inspired to call this charming place “Mount Pleasant” after coming across local correspondence dating back 130 years that referred to the area by that name. Once you witness the spectacular view from the hills overlooking Shepody Bay, you'll find the name speaks for itself.
Today, Mount Pleasant is a multipurpose venue that can host any kind of gathering you can imagine: from musical presentations, weddings & receptions, workshops, yoga retreats to corporate day retreats and business meetings.
Highlighted by the original stained-glass windows, the color and life of the space is inspiring. The upstairs space with original pews, seats 100 guests. The downstairs space can seat 40 guests. There is one restroom on the downstairs level.
Our main level is accessible with a ramp located near the rear entrance.
It was while spending summers in Hopewell Hill that Charlotte Love and Shelley Garnhum (both née West) first fell in love with this area. They spent their childhood days exploring the surrounding meadows and farmland, picking fiddlehead greens, sea lavender, and blueberries, watching the shorebirds and discovering treasures left behind by the receding tides. It was idyllic then, as it is today. They feel confident that once you have experienced this special place you will love it too.
Charlotte Love
Charlotte, known to many as Mrs. Love, is a high school teacher who specializes in Physical Education In 2012, she was one of the first PE teachers in NB to be trained to implement yoga into the high school curriculum as a credit course. Yoga, quite simply, changed Charlotte’s life. It is her wish to share the many benefits of the practice with others. Charlotte is a 2016 recipient of the New Brunswick Minister’s Excellence in Education Award.
A lifelong runner, Charlotte has completed 19 marathons and coached many student athletes to their finish lines. She is a certified kayak instructor, and during the summer months can be found leading tours around The Hopewell Rocks with Baymount Adventures.
Shelley Garnhum
One of Shelley’s earliest memories is of creating a miniature house complete with a garden from bits and pieces of cardboard and other found materials. She planted grass seed to create a living yard and spent many hours poring over the project to add details to make it beautiful and balanced. Small rocks became the walkway. And she has vivid memories of searching through the woods around her home for the tiny plants that would become the garden. And she recalls “borrowing” fabric from her mother to make curtains that would blow in the wind. Shelley learned how to plan, to gather, and to create something inspired by her vision. It was a small project that ignited a lifelong interest in nature and horticulture, and her love of being a “maker”.
Shelley also recognized early a delight in seeing how children learn. Quite naturally, this led her to study Early Childhood Education, a field where she spent years teaching (and learning from) young children. Her transition to working with families seemed a natural move, and her years with early intervention programs has kept her learning, focused and challenged.
Sister proprietors, Shelley Garnhum and Charlotte Love are 6th generation Wests from Harvey and Hopewell Hill. They also own the old West Homestead next door to Mount Pleasant, which now welcomes guests from near and far as an Airbnb. With four bedrooms and a wrap-around verandah from which to watch the sun rise over the bay, this is a lovely (and oh so convenient) place to lay your heads if your event requires an overnight stay. The charming farmhouse also has a million-dollar view of the majestic expanse of the Shepody Marshes, Mary’s Point Bird Sanctuary and Grindstone Island. Nicely located in rural New Brunswick, it is just 10 kms from Hopewell Rocks, 25 kms from Cape Enrage, 13 kms from Shepody National Wildlife area (Mary’s Point), and 32 kms to Fundy National Park. Sawmill Creek covered bridge and walking trails are just minutes away.
Click here for the link to the West Homestead: http://bit.ly/WestHomestead
The sisters have a strong appreciation of their family history, due in no small part to the many stories shared with them over the years by their father, James Watson West. Jim was a local historian who would passionately share 240 years of local and family history he had gleaned – from diaries, letters, postcards, deeds, maps, photographs, headstones, and books – with anyone who would listen. Shelley and Charlotte listened, so do not be surprised if you end up with an impromptu history lesson on your next visit to Mount Pleasant.
