Many Christian charities have a part to play in where we are now.

Our present work goes back to the formation long ago of various independent Branches of the YWCA of Scotland, some of whom decided in 1987 to merge at that point with an English Charity by the name of Christian Alliance or C.A. and formerly named Christian Alliance of Women and Girls founded back in 1920.

The Branches which did merge were Greenock, Edinburgh which included Kinnaird Christian Hostel in Coates Crescent and the Craigentinny Christian Centre and finally Muslin Street, Glasgow, which was operating a hostel known as Bethany House, the name taken from the old Bethany Hall, a well known Christian meeting place of yesteryear.

Kinnaird House, Coates Crescent

There had been a new work started in Glenrothes, Fife under the name of Gilven House in 1985 and this was also involved in the merger, but was not previously a YWCA of Scotland Branch.

In 1993, Christian Alliance, wishing to focus on new housing legislation developments, decided initially to constitute a separate body, an unregistered Housing Association, which was originally named – Christian Alliance (Scotland) Limited – with charitable status. A Committee of Management was elected and later that year a Director of the Charity was appointed. The brief was to run and manage the work in Scotland.

Craigentinny Christian Centre

Not long after this in 1994 the parent Charity changed its name to KeyChange and we followed suit by becoming KeyChange Scotland Limited.

The next alteration did not take place until 1998, when we “devolved” and became Scottish Christian Alliance Limited, giving what we believe is a “Scottish” flavour and dimension and also reminding us a bit of our roots and ethos.

We sold our Edinburgh properties back in 2001, which later helped to fund the building of The Arch at our Muslin Street address and also ensured the ownership of Gilven House.

Old Bethany House

Having slimmed down in some ways, we have grown dramatically in other ways as we have modernised, adapted to the rigours of new legislation and expanded in the provision of professional housing support services. We are also looking at further growth possibly with other partners into for example the Edinburgh and Lothian area.

Some chapters of the book have been written but there is more to come!!