A SHORT HISTORY

The property of CRIEFF HILLS COMMUNITY was first worked by Highland Scots who settled this area in the 1830's. They cleared the land, building log cabins and barns. When their families grew they used the stone of the area to build solid stone houses. They borrowed the name CRIEFF from a town at the edge of the highlands. They spoke Gaelic and for this reason brought their first minister - The Reverend Andrew Maclean, from Scotland as well. The first child born in the manse was John Bayne Maclean, who grew up to become a newspaper man. He founded "Maclean's" magazine, "The Financial Post" and Maclean-Hunter publishers. He was known as Col. Maclean since he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Militia.

In the 1920's Col. Maclean was responsible for having restoration and renovation work done on the church grounds and cemetery at the cross-roads of Crieff. In recognition of his service, he was given the old manse and an acre of land in 1925, which he made into his country home. He gradually

bought up 300 acres of adjacent farm land and made a model working farm with a dairy herd, pigs, grain fields, orchards and about 100 acres of reforested land. His estate - Crieff Hills Farm - became known far and wide for its beautiful landscape and gardens.

When he died in 1950 he left 250 acres of the farm and its buildings to The Presbyterian Church in Canada, along with money invested, to be used "to maintain and develop the several properties at Crieff ... as a model and example to other communities." After 25 years of being rented out for farming and private residences, the property began to be developed into a retreat and conference centre for the church under the Directorship of the Reverend Robert Spencer and the Maclean Estate Committee.

First the 1940 stone cottage was renovated into the retreat HOUSE OF THE SHEPHERD in 1975. It was so popular, the log cabin was made over into the HOUSE OF THE PROPHET the next year. Interest in the Community grew, so MATTHEW and MARK LODGES were built in 1977 and '78 and a large kitchen added to the former school house. Through the gifts and skills of many people we have renovated and added to our buildings over the years. As needs have been identified we have tried to provide for them, as in the HERMITAGE which was completely made over through the work of many hands, into a private retreat house. In 1982 the second addition was added to Maclean Hall, to be used for our offices. We began using the HOUSE OF THE DOVE in 1983.

To meet the growing demand for programmes and for use of the facilities, a fund raising campaign began in 1985 and the results were ST. LUKE'S LODGE and THE CONFERENCE HALL in 1991. Many gifts have been given for these facilities, including the hand made quilts made possible by Presbyterian Church women's groups. Note their church plates in the bedrooms of ST. LUKE.