Originally founded by three outstanding Christian business men in 1820, the Gladstone Centre is rooted in the history of Christian testimony in Liverpool. Sir John Gladstone was the father of William Gladstone, the prime minister. He and his wife Anne were committed to the promotion of evangelical Christianity in the city. He built several churches and a Christian school. William Hope was a merchant who built the first house in Hope Street, now occupied by the Philharmonic Hotel. James Cropper was a peace loving Quaker seafarer who refused to carry cannon to fire on his ship and had replicas painted instead. His principles were born of his love of the Bible. Gladstone and Cropper were involved in the movement to abolish slavery and at one time Cropper was the leading abolitionist in Liverpool.

During the early nineteenth century, Liverpool endured severe problems of overcrowding and slum growth. This was due to rapid population increase from 77,000 in 1801 to 444,000 in 1861. Many charities were founded at this time to help in various ways. Gladstones then known as the Charitable Institution House, was built as a centre for charities to organise their work more effectively. Many Christian organisations have been based here, including the Bible Society, Religious Tract Society, Liverpool City Mission and Scripture Gift Mission. In 1938 Mr B.F. Turner opened the Liverpool Bible depot. Scripture Union took over in the 1960's, and from the 1980's, Contact Christian Books supplied quality Christian books to the public.

In 1997 the Gladstone Trust was expanded to involve a larger group of Liverpool Churches and to contribute to a deeper co-operation amongst Christians. The centre was renamed Gladstones and its ministries include the Book Shop, Cafe, Outreach and Christian Venue.