The Gospel Literature Service was established in Bombay in 1942 by Wilf Durham, a printer from Gloucester who came to India to print and distribute Gospel literature. During the war years Durham visited military camps and urged new believers in the Forces to seek out fellow Christians and form into teams. He taught them how to form Bible Studies groups and encouraged the distribution of Gospel tracts.
At this time there was an embargo on importing Christian literature as the ships were needed to transport soldiers and arms. Durham began to print tracts and the teams were supplied with parcels of literature to distribute. He also wrote and printed a magazine called Active Service to encourage young believers in the Forces.
After the war Durham continued the work of preparing and printing Gospel and Christian literature with a view to reach the wider population of India, printing in several languages. The premises were expanded and new machinery was acquired with advances in production. Durham provided training in a variety of tasks and formed a number of departments.
Wilf Durham died in 1951 but the work of the Gospel Literature Service continued and a number of staff continued the training process. By this time the Gospel Literature Service was publishing under the name 'GLS Press'. Paul Marsh provided training to the accounting department, Fred Tiessen taught stock taking procedures and William Thompson organised proof reading and book lay-out and became General Manager. Ian Hall worked with the process department and Allan Vincent taught the process department how to make colour separation negatives. John Warner, a missionary from Gujarat, taught letter press printing and Mrs. Liddel worked with the accounting department and later ran the bookshop.
In 1959 the Gospel Literature Service moved from its original venue to a new premises of 3000 square feet in Udyog Bhavan, Worli. Part of the old premises was converted into a bookshop which expanded the opportunities for marketing and selling publications. Annual catalogues of publications were printed and in addition calendars, posters and stationery were produced.
William Thompson retired as General Manager in 1965 and this role was taken over by former camera man Mr. M. E. Eapen.
With the further increase in production and machinery a larger premises was rented in Ghatkopar, a suburb of Bombay. By this time the company had acquired through donation two Heidelberg offset machines, a Mercedes letterpress machine and a Linotype.
The main objectives of the Gospel Literature Service was the printing of Gospel literature, the publication of Christian literature and the printing of Christian literature for other Christian bodies, including thousands of Gospels in several languages for the Pocket Testament League, publications for the Bible Society and an order of Chinese Gospels. Secular material such as school text books and medical literature were also published to support their primary work.
