The eldest son of James Crombie [sic], a mason, by his wife May Johnstoun, he was born at Perth on 6 December 1730.
[1] Crombie was licensed by Strathbogie presbytery on 8 June 1757 at Rothiemay, where he acted as parish schoolmaster for some time.
The Strathbogie presbytery agreed, and Crombie spent the next four sessions at Glasgow, attending classes himself, and superintending the studies of his pupil.
Attempts to bring Crombie back to his duties at Lhanbryde culminated in a formal censure on 1 March 1763.
He received a call in December 1769 , but did not give up his charge at Lhanbryde until 22 October 1770, when he was already settled in Belfast as colleague to James Mackay.
This was carried into effect in 1783; John Wesley, who preached in the new building in 1789, describes it as "the completest place of worship I have ever seen".
On 10 February 1790 he attended a meeting of the Antrim presbytery, at which two congregations were added to its roll, and he was appointed to preside at an ordination on 4 March.