When Col. J.B. Maclean left 250 acres to the Presbyterian Church in Canada back in 1950, one of the stipulations he included in his will was that it be maintained and developed “as a model and example to other communities.”
“We’re very conscious of what Col. Maclean probably had on his mind and his agricultural and environmentally – friendly ideas,” said Lawrence Pentelow, who has been director of Crieff Hills Community Retreat and Conference Centre for the last 14 years. “So in the last five, six, or even eight years, we’ve increasingly taken seriously that the idea of community has a great deal to do with the land because it brings us back in touch with our roots.”
This year marks a special event in the centre’s ongoing history, as Crieff Hills celebrates its 40th anniversary. To connect even more to its agricultural roots, Crieff is increasingly focusing on environmental stewardship. The property, nestled among rolling hills less than an hour northwest of Toronto, is a mix of forests, fields and developed grounds. Dedicated employees have created a bluebird nesting box trail, a butterfly garden and shrub area to host endangered butterflies and caterpillars, and taken on heritage fruit tree cultivation, forestry projects, and bee keeping that enables honey production and sales. Meals served in the Maclean Hall dining room feature fresh vegetables grown in the gardens as well as local produce and seasonal items.
Maclean kept the property as his country getaway, and it was a working farm going back to the 1800s. Today, the retreat centre offers spaces for meetings, lodge-type buildings for overnight groups, historic houses for things like retreats or large family getaways, and individual suites and drop-in space in the Pines, a building added in 2011. There are also miles of trails for hikes, a labyrinth for spiritual contemplation, and special events that highlight everything from nature to theology.
“The parables of Jesus come alive in this setting,” said Rev. Bob Geddes, chair of the Maclean Estate Committee, which handles the overall operations of the facility. “Just walking around out here, you can start to connect to some of those parables. You see the fields in action and how they change over the year.”
The centre is a self-sustaining ministry, relying solely on donations, profits from visitors and funds from the estate. A major project for the near future is increasing the accessibility of the conference hall.
Crieff is billed as “a place apart,” and the committee strives to strike a balance between planned programming and big events, and self-guided individual or group activities.
“Historically, conference centres have selected plans and events and pushed them out to the population,” said Pentelow, “but our approach is primarily to draw people in and provide them with the opportunity to experience faith development.”
It’s a low-profile way to operate, as Pentelow may not receive feedback from visitors who come to Crieff for a personal or spiritual time, rather than an organized event.
“Our ministry is hospitality,” he continued. “It comes back to acting below the radar; we don’t always know the impact we’re having but in faith we know we are.”
A 40th anniversary celebration will be held on Sept 27. Visit crieffhills.com for a full event listing.
