The church originated in the St Ninian's Mission, founded in 1891 at the instigation of Archibald Charteris to minister in the area of the Pleasance.

The former Kirk o' Field church building was completed in 1912 to a design by James Bow Dunn in the late Scottish Gothic style.

At the urging of Archibald Charteris, the St Ninian's Mission on the Pleasance, which the deaconesses staffed, was constructed and opened in 1891.

[7] In 1934, the General Assembly gave the church a constitution equivalent to a quoad sacra parish, which allowed the minister a seat on the presbytery.

The church was not, however, fully independent: the presbytery retained the right to appoint six elders from other congregations to Charteris Memorial's session.

The practice of appointing external elders proved unworkable and the provision was soon abandoned; though Charteris Memorial's special constitution was only withdrawn in 1954.

[14] Co-operation between the uniting congregations proved successful; however, the church's membership quickly declined from 1,174 at the time of the union to 757 in 1972.

Following a period of consultation, Richard Frazer, minister of Greyfriars, set out a plan for a community centre based in the buildings.

[27][28] Konishi Gaffney's initial plans involved the removal of tracery from the west window and the cutting down of its margin to street level to create a two-storey glazed frontage.

[30] The centre defines itself as "a place for community, connection and wellbeing, providing a base and support for social enterprises, charities, local groups and activities".

[34] The Kirk o' Field building was constructed in 1912 to a design of James Bow Dunn, which imitates the late Scottish Gothic style.

The front elevation centres on a curvilinear traceried window and is flanked by a short steeple with a red-tiled spire and a corbeled, battlemented parapet.

[5] At the 2019–2022 refurbishment by Konishi Gaffney Architects, a three-storey reception space was constructed in the gap between the Kirk o' Field and St Ninian's buildings.

The reception, with glass-fronted door, is faced in terrazzo and acetylated wood with the former textured in a pattern "inspired by an unravelled doric column".

[39] On the rear wall, there was, prior to the refurbishment, a plaque celebrating the Deaconesses of the Church of Scotland and another in memory of Archibald Charteris.

[35][5][40] The interior retains its wooden wagon roof and masonry details; though the west gallery was removed in the 21st-century alterations, as was the vestibule ceiling with its "Lorimerian vine enrichment in plaster".

A screen of soundproof glass and plywood fins separates it from the Binks Hall while allowing the flow of natural light.