Alpha is for anyone who is curious about Christianity — whether you have no faith background, are lapsed churchgoers, or are Christians who want to explore the foundations of their faith more deeply. There are also versions for young people, students, the workplace and prisons.

Yes. Alpha is always free. The host church usually provides a meal or refreshments at no charge.

What topics does Alpha cover?

Topics include: Is there more to life than this? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can I have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? How does God guide us? Who is the Holy Spirit? What about the Church? How do I make the most of the rest of my life?

Do I have to be invited?

No. You can search for an Alpha course at a local church and simply contact them to sign up. Most churches running Alpha are delighted to welcome walk-ins.

Where did Alpha originate?

Alpha began at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in South Kensington, London, in the 1970s and was significantly developed by Nicky Gumbel in the early 1990s. It has since spread to churches of virtually every Christian denomination in the world.

Church Guide

What Is the Alpha Course?

Alpha is the world's most widely used introduction to Christian faith. Free, informal and genuinely open to anyone, it offers a safe space to explore the big questions of life over 10 weeks. This guide explains what Alpha is, what to expect, and how to find a course near you.

Quick answer

Church Near Me explains the Alpha Course — a free series of group sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith over food, a talk and open discussion. Alpha runs in thousands of UK churches of every tradition and is designed for complete beginners.

What Happens on Alpha?

Each Alpha session follows the same relaxed format: a shared meal or coffee, followed by a short talk (usually a video of around 25–30 minutes), followed by small group discussion. The discussion is informal — there are no right or wrong answers, and you are free to say anything or ask anything. No previous knowledge of Christianity is assumed or required.

Alpha is run over 10 weeks. About midway through, many Alpha groups hold an optional Alpha Day or Weekend Away focused on questions about the Holy Spirit. Many participants say this is one of the most valuable parts of the course.

The Topics Covered

— Is there more to life than this?
— Who is Jesus?
— Why did Jesus die?
— How can I have faith?
— Why and how do I pray?
— Why and how should I read the Bible?
— How does God guide us?
— Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do?
— How can I make the most of the rest of my life?
— How and why should I tell others?

Who Is Alpha For?

Alpha is explicitly designed for people who are not yet Christians or who are unsure about their faith. It is not a course for confirming or deepening existing believers — though many long-standing Christians find it a rich experience too. The format is designed so that sceptics, agnostics and people of other faiths feel completely comfortable attending.

There are also specialist versions of Alpha: Alpha for Youth, Alpha for Students, Alpha for Prisons, Alpha in the Workplace, and Youth Alpha.

The Origins of Alpha

Alpha began in the 1970s at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in South Kensington, London, as a simple course for new Christians. In the early 1990s, Nicky Gumbel redesigned it as an outreach tool open to non-Christians. It spread rapidly through Anglican, and then Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal churches, and is now run in over 100 countries in 112 languages with more than 30 million people having completed the course.

Find a Church Running Alpha ← All Guides