David Van Every was the first settler in the area that would become known as Christie’s Corners, at the intersection of Hwy. 8 and Beverly Town Line, in 1802 through his Crown Grant of 200 acres of land in the First Concession.

Awarded the land for his service during the American Revolutionary War, when he was a member of the famed Butler’s Rangers, he eventually received an additional 800 acres from the Crown on behalf of his wife and brothers.

Rev. Thomas Christie, after whom the corners were named, was one of three missionaries who came to Upper Canada from Scotland in 1832. He established the first Presbyterian church in the Flamboroughs that was erected at the corners. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1817 by the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church of Scotland and upon arriving in West Flamborough, he discovered many members of the same affiliation living in the area. He organized a congregation almost immediately. The group originally met in a log schoolhouse on Lot 1, Concession 1. Rev. Christie conducted the first service and served as pastor of the congregation for 38 years – until a few days prior to his death in 1870.

During the 1860s and 1870s, Rev. Christie’s son Robert operated one of the largest sawmills on the Spencer Creek just north of Christie’s Corners. He built the fine stone home known as Christie Manor that faces Hwy. 8 opposite the church. The house, constructed of local limestone in a style resembling an English manor house, underwent alterations in 1910 to reflect the art nouveau style of the era. It was purchased in 1881 by the Biggs family. Frank Campbell Biggs, the only son of former Beverly Township Reeve R. L. Biggs, served as M.P.P. for Wentworth North from 1919-1926.

Christie’s Corners was the site of a strange occurrence in 1834, when it was known by its original name, Alfred Town. Living in the area were members of a small religious group known as Millerites. The area was chosen by the leader of the group to witness a predicted Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ at 10 a.m. on April 23, 1834. He and his followers, who had “disposed of their worldly goods and made up Ascension Clothes out of white bed sheets,” climbed trees and buildings in an effort to “get closer to heaven.”

After an hour of waiting and praying, the members were forced to abandon the idea of their leader’s prediction and return home.

Lisa Jefferies, Flamborough Archives Summer Student

This article was originally published in the Flamborough Review, 12 November 2015.