No records exist of ministers serving the congregation in those early years. The next record we find comes from 1880.
In 1880, the Rev. Charles McLean was hired to serve both Knox Presbyterian Church in the Sixth Concession of Roxborough and St. James’ in Gravel Hill. The first recorded Communion Service was in 1881. The Rev. C. McLean left in 1882.
He was followed by Mr. D. McLean, a missionary, who served the 2 cocngregations from 1883-1884.
After he left, the Rev. John McKenzie was inducted at Knox in Roxborough in 1884, and served both congregations until he left in 1885.
Mr. D. McLean returned to the area after graduating and ordination. Now the Rev. D. McLean, he served as minister for the two congregations for one year (1886).
The Gravel Hill congregation then petitioned Presbytery to join with the Apple Hill congregation. The petition was granted and, in 1887, the Rev. D.D. MacLennan served as minister to the two congregation until 1903. The Apple Hill church is now known as Zion United.
After the Rev. MacLennan retired, the Gravel Hill congregation broke with Apple Hill and joined with St. Andrew’s in Avonmore. The Rev. George Weir became their minister. However, he left in 1905.
The next minister was the Rev. Hector N. MacLean, a very evangelical minister. Inducted in 1905, the Rev. MacLean served three congregations: St. Andrew’s (Avonmore), St. James’ (Gravel Hill) and St. Andrew’s (Monkland).
Preaching three services on Sunday, plus holding various prayer meetings and other services through the week, plus reaching out into the communities proved to be too much – particularly as the congregations were growing. In fact, one communion service in Avonmore was attended by 162 communicants. After a year, the Rev. MacLean insisted that Gravel Hill and Monkland be split from Avonmore and become a separate charge.
In 1906, the Rev. James Hastie, became minister of the two congregations (Gravel Hill and Monkland). He stayed until 1908