The Alpha Course has been running for more than 26 years. It began at Holy Trinity Brompton in central London, in the late 1970s, as a means of presenting the basic principles of the Christian faith to new Christians in a relaxed and informal setting. By 1990, when former lawyer Nicky Gumbel took over the course, Alpha was a central feature of the church's life. While leading his second Alpha course, Nicky realized this course could also appeal to non-
churchgoers and he adapted it, making it welcoming and suitable for such individuals.

During the 1990s, the Alpha course spread – first throughout the UK and then internationally - as more churches and groups found it a helpful way to answer people’s questions about the Christian faith. Now, there are more than 33,500 courses run in 163 countries and the Alpha course is supported by all major denominations.