The New College Missionary Society had undertaken home mission work in deprived areas of Edinburgh since 1845, settling in the former buildings of Pleasance Free Church in 1876.

In both cases, co-operating with an existing church community proved difficult; the society therefore sought to operate a home mission with a degree of independence.

In the early days of the Free Church, Thomas Chalmers combined missionary work with a belief in laissez faire capitalism.

By contrast, William Garden Blaikie, who was active in supporting the New College Settlement, displayed a greater sensitivity to the external causes of poverty.

Though unattached to any congregation, Free St Andrew's in the West End was especially active in supporting the settlement in its early days.

[4][9] The establishment of a longer-term wardenship proved successful and, in 1908, a full-time minister, John Harry Miller, was appointed as warden, initially for a period of five years.

In Lynn Bruce's words: [Friendliness], goodwill and energy are present throughout Miller's obituaries and it is clear that he brought to the settlement a considerable degree of charisma.

[11] In the academic year of Miller's appointment, 45 out of 56 ministerial students at New College were in close contact with the work of the settlement.

[12] Students who served as sub-warden included Archibald Campbell Craig and Fraser McLuskey: both of whom would go on to become moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

[13] A working arrangement between the settlement and Arthur Street United Free Church had been formulated in 1906 but proved unworkable and was dissolved in 1909.

John Harry Miller became the united congregation's first minister, holding this position in tandem with the wardenship of the settlement.

[15][19] In co-operation with the Pleasance Trust, the work of the settlement expanded into the surrounding buildings, which began to resemble a community centre.

[25][26] From the foundation of the settlement in 1893 to the appointment of T. Struthers Symington in 1904, the wardenship was held on an annual basis by New College students.

[27][28][29][30] 1908–1935 John Harry Miller (with Roderick Murchison as colleague: 1927–1935) 1936–1945 William Strang Tindall 1946–1950 Bernhard Citron The former Pleasance Free Church opened in 1858 and was altered by Henry F. Kerr at the time of the neighbouring tenement's construction in 1891–1893.

In the upper storey, a central, round-headed, traceried window in the late Scottish Gothic style illuminates the former sanctuary.

[34] Geddes aimed to revive the heyday of Edinburgh's university and Old Town by creating buildings and spaces where students and residents would interact.

[35] Along with Sydney Mitchell, Geddes pioneered an architectural idiom which applied romantic elements to tenemented social housing.

[36] The New College Settlement tenement's timbered gables, bargeboards, and jettied windows recall one such housing project, Ramsay Garden, which Geddes and Mitchell designed with Stewart Henbest Capper.