Ernest Streets was born in London in 1905. On leaving school he worked first in a factory and then in a solicitor's office, before entering Glasgow Bible Training Institute. From there he conducted various weekend evangelical campaigns in Scotland, one being held in Cowdenbeath, a small coal-mining town in Fife. The following year he returned to Cowdenbeath for the whole of the summer with a marquee. At the end of 1927, following a great summer of revival and aided by another student from the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow, one who had been born in that town, together they founded the Cowdenbeath Gospel Mission.

Ernest Streets became its pastor in 1927 and was its only pastor. In 1990 the Mission was forced to close its doors, and in 1991 Ernest Streets fell asleep in Christ. He lived his life "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2: 13), and now he awaits that moment, "When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4).