1920's – Evangelical Publishers Ltd
Evangelical Publishers Ltd (imprint: Victory Press) begins publishing Christian children’s books and titles by authors such as Watchman Nee and Arthur Wallis.
A global Christian bookselling and mission movement is born, with a heart to make God's Word accessible across the world.
1944 – Ken and Bessie Adams, move to Canada
CLC founders, Ken and Bessie Adams, move to Canada to start a missionary sending base, later relocating to Fort Washington, Pennsylvania to establish another base.
1940's – CLC is established in seven countries
CLC is established in seven countries, several in cooperation with WEC (Worldwide Evangelization Crusade).
1948 – CLC UK sends its first missionary
CLC UK sends its first missionary, Doris Whybrow, to help establish CLC in Uruguay.
1941–1974 – Ken and Bessie Adams serve as International Directors
Ken and Bessie Adams serve as International Directors, guiding CLC spiritually and commercially, sending missionaries and support to dozens of CLC operations worldwide.
1950 – CLC UK publishes the first edition of The Calvary Road
CLC UK publishes the first edition of The Calvary Road by Roy Hession, which goes on to sell over one million copies in more than 80 languages.
Mid-1960s – Musical Gospel Outreach
Musical Gospel Outreach (MGO) is formed to organise Christian music events and publish the Buzz newsletter.
1962 – Norman Grubb publishes Leap of Faith
Norman Grubb (WEC International) publishes Leap of Faith on the early years of CLC.
CLC UK moves its wholesale and mail-order operations from Upper Norwood, London, to a warehouse in Alresford, Hampshire.
1960's – CLC is established in seven additional countries
Early 1970s – MGO forms Thank You Music Ltd
MGO forms Thank You Music Ltd, later a major Christian song publisher.
1973 – Living Bible Foundation Ltd is established.
A pioneering UK-based publisher and distributor of Christian music and literature launches, supporting the Church through worship and resources.
1970s – CLC UK grows to over 20 bookshops
CLC UK grows to over 20 bookshops in England, Scotland, and Wales under the banner Bookshops with a Mission.
1970s – CLC starts work in 10 more countries.
1975–2009 – Kingsway Trustees oversee ministries
Kingsway Trustees oversee ministries through Kingsway Publications, Kingsway Music, Thank You Music, and Associated Christian Publishers.
1976 – Victory Press and Coverdale House merge
Victory Press and Coverdale House merge to form Associated Christian Publishers Ltd to promote The Living Bible.
1977 – Associated Christian Publishers renamed Kingsway Publications Ltd.
1981 – Renamed Kingsway Trust Ltd.
Early 1980s – MGO becomes Kingsway Music Ltd,
MGO becomes Kingsway Music Ltd, merges into the Servant Group, and begins producing contemporary worship music.
1980s – CLC established in four new countries.
1980s– Bibles sent to Russia.
From the CLC Aberdeen bookshop, Bibles are sent one-by-one to Russia, eventually numbering in the thousands.
Book Aid founded by Bob and Ada Hiley, sending over 35 million second-hand Bibles and Christian books to 17 countries (often to CLC partners).
1988 – Associated Christian Publishers re-registered
Associated Christian Publishers re-registered to provide marketing and distribution globally.
1989 – Kingsway renamed The Servant Trust.
1991 – Renamed back to Kingsway Trust.
1991–1994 – CLC begins work in Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Belarus
CLC begins work in Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Belarus after the fall of the Iron Curtain; later expands to two Central Asian countries.
Early 1990s – Kingsway Trust gives financial grants
Kingsway Trust gives financial grants to publishers to support new books and music.
1993 – Kingsway launches Overseas Sales Development
Kingsway launches Overseas Sales Development to distribute Christian books to developing countries, partnering with Book Aid and CLC International.
1997 – CLC remains in Hong Kong
Despite the UK handover of Hong Kong to China, CLC remains when many ministries leave.
1990s – CLC begins work in 11 new countries
CLC begins work in 11 new countries and becomes responsible for operations in Belarus, Poland, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
1999 – Kingsway Trust takes over No Frontiers (Literature Outreach) Ltd,
Kingsway Trust takes over No Frontiers (Literature Outreach) Ltd, distributing Bibles in 150+ languages to migrant communities and overseas.
2000s – CLC starts operations in six more countries.
2002 – First CLC commercial website launched in Romania
First CLC commercial website launched in Romania, becoming the platform for 20 countries in 10 languages.
2010s – CLC begins work in Bolivia and Mexico.
2011 – The CLC Bible Companion is published internationally
The CLC Bible Companion is published internationally, doubling CLC’s publishing output in 10 years.
2016 – CLC sells its Alresford warehouse
CLC sells its Alresford warehouse, moving distribution to Chester. International Council Meetings celebrate CLC’s 75th anniversary.
1999 – Kingsway Trust takes over No Frontiers (Literature Outreach) Ltd,
Kingsway Trust takes over No Frontiers (Literature Outreach) Ltd, distributing Bibles in 150+ languages to migrant communities and overseas.
2019 – Kingsway and CLC Unite
In 2019, these two stories came together. Today, as Kingsway CLC Trust, we stand on over 80 years of faithful gospel work, combining the creativity of publishing and events with the reach of global retail and mission.
From church book tables to worship conferences, digital platforms to frontline partnerships—we exist to serve the Body of Christ and share the good news of Jesus with the world.
2020 – Covid pandemic hits
Covid pandemic hits; the newly merged Trust’s integrated systems enable continued online ministry.
2022 – Activities of No Frontiers officially transferred
Activities of No Frontiers officially transferred into Kingsway CLC Trust.
2023 – No Frontiers (Literature Outreach) Ltd formally dissolved.
2024 – Kingsway CLC Trust launches a Print on Demand facility
Kingsway CLC Trust launches a Print on Demand facility in Chester to reduce supply chains and increase sustainability.
2024 – CLC International launches a Children’s Bible project
CLC International launches a Children’s Bible project in multiple languages for various age groups.
