alphafbEveryone has questions

We believe that everyone should have the chance to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view; wherever they are in the world.

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and everyone’s welcome. It runs in cafés, churches, universities, homes, bars—you name it. No two Alphas look the same, but generally they have three key things in common: food, a talk and good conversation.

What about Alpha at Kendal Parish Church?

We want to give you a safe place to ask your questions, meet other people exploring the same questions and explore what Christian faith is all about. Everyone is welcome, and no question is off limit. We believe that Christian faith is something which brings life and hope, and which stands up  to lived experience as well as intellectual scrutiny. People come to our Alpha course from many different experiences and walks of life. You will be very welcome.

To find out more, please contact the Vicar, via the contact form below.

You can also find out more on the Alpha website.

The best people to tell you about Alpha, though, are those who’ve been on it. Here are two testimonials from Jan and Anna, both of whom have attended an Alpha course here recently.

Jan:

Having attended an excellent talk at Kendal Parish Church on Arthur Simpson, the furniture-maker, and being made extremely welcome, I decided to go to the poetry afternoon which I had seen advertised by the Friends of the church.

All the poems were most enjoyable and I laughed so much at the one about “The Dolly on a Dustcart” by Pam Ayres that I spoke to the reader afterwards. Following our conversation, I somehow ended up with a leaflet about an Alpha Course. One was about to start so I signed up. I was very nervous as I arrived, being very much a lapsed church-goer, but I needn’t have worried as the very dedicated leaders were so kind and helpful and the course so interesting and informative. Having described myself as a Christian pretty well from childhood I soon realised that this was simply not good enough and that I must have, and needed to have, a much closer relationship with God. I am learning to do this through Alpha, thanks to the reader of that poem!

Anna:

‘Over recent years a number of friends recommended that I try an Alpha course. But as I was away at university, I kept putting it off.  Completing my degree and moving back to work in Kendal, I happened to see the Alpha poster outside Kendal Parish Church and decided to get in touch with the course leader Nigel, to find out more.  From the beginning, I was made to feel so welcome. Each session, we explored a different aspect of the Christian faith and every time I questioned (somewhat cynically at times!) I was met with patience, friendship and encouragement from our Alpha group. Very quickly Alpha became the highlight of my week and our group enjoyed it that much, that we have continued studying a follow-up Alpha course together. I learnt a great deal from the course; not just about Christianity, but also about life and people’s journeys through it, and I’m really grateful for that experience.’

Alpha