Alpha. Alpha Course In 1990, Gumbel took over the running of the Alpha Course that had been running there since 1977. 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 Christians. Gumbel serves as the public face of the course, being described by James Heard as something of a "Weberian charismatic leader". Gumbel 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. See also Evangelical Anglicanism Nicky Lee (priest) Low church Toronto Blessing References Further reading External links Holy Trinity Brompton Church website Gumbel sermon archive 1955 births 20th-century English Anglican priests 21st-century English Anglican priests Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Alumni of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford Anglican writers Converts to Anglicanism from atheism or agnosticism People educated at Eton College English Charismatics English evangelicals English people of German-Jewish descent Evangelical Anglican clergy Evangelicalism in the Church of England Holy Trinity Brompton people Living people Clergy from London Lawyers from London English barristers