Alpha International is the charity that runs the Alpha course, a Christian programme that began as a spiritual recruitment tool for Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), a trendy Anglican evangelical church in west London. The course launched in 1977 and is one of Britain's most successful cultural exports.
More than 30m people have taken the Alpha course. In 2024 alone over 2m people across 146 countries did Alpha, its most successful year yet. Roughly a quarter of participants are in America, but its fastest-growing region is sub-Saharan Africa. The film series is available in 53 languages. It now offers a bespoke Chinese version with culturally relevant content. No other religious course comes close to matching its reach. Alpha runs courses in most of Britain's prisons.
Alpha typically runs for 11 weeks. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, and no question is too stupid. There is a hard 90-minute time limit on each meeting. Prayer is typically introduced in around week five, the Bible in week six. Later, during an away day, participants are invited to use their "spiritual gifts", such as speaking in tongues or prophesying.
Alpha is funded almost entirely by donations. Ken Costa, the chair, is a banker. Sir Paul Marshall, a controversial media mogul, is another prominent supporter. Alpha runs a Bible app, two marriage courses and an annual leadership conference. Its stated vision is "the evangelisation of the nations, the revitalisation of the church and the transformation of society".
In 2024 a fifth of churches running Alpha were Catholic. To maximise its reach, Alpha eschews controversial topics: there is no mention of infant baptism, Marian devotion or homosexuality in its courses. Yet its presence in nearly 50 countries, with local offices often staffed by Catholics, helps explain why HTB has opposed proposals within the Church of England to introduce blessings for gay couples.
More than a third of Alpha's courses are designed specifically for under-25s. Its films frame the loneliness and mental-health struggles afflicting young people as symptoms of a deeper spiritual hunger. Despite talk of a "spiritual revival" in Britain, just 3% of 18- to 34-year-olds attended church at least once a month in 2024, according to the British Social Attitudes survey, down from 5% in 2017.
Some changes are so slow, you don't notice them. Others are so fast, they don't notice you.