Alpha originated at Holy Trinity Brompton - an Anglican church in London in the 1970’s. The syllabus of the course is contained in the Book “Questions of Life” by Rev. Nicky Gumbel. The course is usually held in a local Church hall but it has also been run successfully in other venues such as private houses, community centres, pubs, golf clubs and hotels. For example, in Carnmoney Co. Antrim the Alpha course has been run in the local golf club twice a year for the last three years; in Tullamore the four main churches in the town have run Alpha successfully in a local pub in 2006, 2007, 2008; in Bray the main churches have run 10 Alphas in pubs and the Catholic community hall.

When the course ends, participants are encouraged to continue their spiritual journey in their local parish or church, sometimes through a parish cell, pastorate or lectio divina group. Cell groups are now established in 39 Catholic parishes in Ireland, some as a follow-up to Alpha eg. Callan, Carrickfergus, Longford. Cell or home Groups are already established in many Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal and other churches.

Alpha finds acceptance across all denominations and has the support of church leaders in Ireland and abroad. For more info please click here.

Everyone is welcome on an Alpha course and people attend for a wide variety of reasons. Some come seeking a meaning to life; others are concerned about what happens after death. Still others may have attended church on and off all their lives but feel they have never really understood the basics of the Christian faith. People come from many different backgrounds, holding many different viewpoints - but all come with the same objective: looking for an opportunity to explore the meaning of life.