Bryning Manse

The Bryning Manse is associated with its builder and first occupant, Reverend John Bryning. Bryning was the first resident Presbyterian minister in the Village of Mount Pleasant. He also provided religious guidance to neighbouring communities by traveling to areas such as Forestville, Burford, Normandale, Scotland and Oakland to conduct religious services. Later in life Bryning also preached from his home.

The Bryning Manse is the only remaining board and batten building in Mount Pleasant and is the oldest surviving house in the community. It is a restrained one-and-a-half-storey structure, in the Regency-Gothic style, which is appropriate for a Presbyterian manse, in a rural pioneer community. Typical of this style, the house has classical proportions which are emphasized by the first storey, 6 over 6 windows. Also present are two steeply-pitched gables, with 4 over 4 gothic windows, and, a front porch covered by a bell-curved roof, supported by flattened columns. Significant changes have been made to the house, such as the addition of a south wing, in 1968, and, a tail wing, in 1992. These additions are sympathetic to the original building, in proportion and scale, as well as detailing, and therefore, have retained the original integrity of the Manse.