Life was not easy in the early years, but a fair number of Scottish immigrants settled in Eastern Ontario throughout the 19th century. Presbyterian churches began in Martintown (1811), Kirk Hill (1820), Vankleek Hill (1824), Maxville (1826), Dunvegan (1838), Moose Creek (1838), and Finch (1840).
The Gravel Hill story begins in 1862 with the arrival of Joshua Fraser in the area. He worked out of Roxborough. Every Sunday morning, he would hold a worship service; the afternoons saw him leading Sabbath School; and weekdays saw him visiting as much as he could. He was very successful in his ministry. Attendance at Sunday worship averaged 150 people; at Sabbath School, attendance increased to 80; and he visited about 50 families.
Remember – all this happened before a church had even been built! Mr. Fraser started hold meetings in the school house in the area but it soon proved to be too small, so services were moved to a large barn. That worked for the summer, but when fall came, the barn was needed for storing crops, and they were forced to go back to the school. Obviously, something more was needed.
John and Elizabeth Montgomery donated land for a church building and cemetery. The deed is dated December 31, 1862 and states “In the name of the trustees of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland in Roxborough Township.” This marks the official beginning of the St. James’ Presbyterian congregation in Gravel Hill but it would be another year before the church was actually built.
In the summer of 1863, building the Gravel Hill church building began. It was finished enough by September 1863 for the first service to be held there. It took a few more years, however, before the inside of St. James’ Presbyterian Church was finished.
Those first few years, the St. James’ congregation was served by student ministers, lay preachers and travelling missionaries.