Alpha is a series of interactive sessions exploring the Christian faith. It runs all around the globe, and everyone’s welcome. Alphas generally have three key things in common: food, a talk (where you can play an episode of the Alpha Youth Series), and good conversation.
Nicky Gumbel is a prolific and well-respected Christian writer who is probably best known for reinventing the Alpha Course. His background is less conventional, however. Being the son of a Stuttgart Jew who was forced to flee Germany after one of the Nazi purges took away his licence to practice law, Walter Gumbel emigrated to Britain and became a successful barrister. Gumbel’s mother, Muriel, served on the Greater London Council for many years between 1967 and 1986 and was Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Nicky was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Initially an avowed atheist, Nicky was converted to Christianity in his first year at Trinity College, Cambridge through reading the New Testament. He said, “I was enthralled. It was as if I had found what I had been looking for all my life.”
After graduating in law in 1976, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a practising barrister based at 3 Hare Court, Temple. Meanwhile, he became a regular worshipper at Holy Trinity Brompton Church, Knightsbridge. Then in 1982 he announced his decision to leave the bar to train for ordination in the Church of England. In 1983 he began theological studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford from where he graduated with an honours degree in theology. After some difficulty in finding a curacy, he joined the staff of his “home” church of Holy Trinity Brompton in London as a curate in 1986. He was ordained priest in 1987.
Nicky Gumbel was officially installed as vicar of Holy Trinity in 2005 and in 2007 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire (whose Chancellor is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey) as recognition of his broad contribution to the wider church via the Alpha Course which Nicky took over and had been running since 1973. The course was transformed under his leadership from being one designed for new Christians to one primarily for those outside the church who would not consider themselves as Christians.
He is the author of a number of books related to the Alpha course, including Questions of Life, which has sold over 1,000,000 copies. Voted “Christian Book of the Year” in 1994, it has been published in 48 languages. Other related books include Why Jesus, Searching Issues, Telling Others, A Life Worth Living, Challenging Lifestyle, Heart of Revival and 30 Days.
Nicky is married to Pippa and they have three adult children.