Alpha Course | Cornerstone Church Bristol

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that help people explore the big questions of life and the Christian faith. Each week we focus on a different theme, such as “Who is Jesus?” or “Why and how do I pray?”. The sessions encourage conversation and create a space where you can ask anything.

Alpha runs all around the world, and everyone is welcome — whether you already call yourself a Christian, you are exploring faith, or you are simply curious.

A global movement

Alpha began in 1977 at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London. In 1990, HTB shared it with other churches, and from there it grew quickly. Since then, millions of people have taken part, and churches across the globe continue to run it today. The course is now available in more than 112 languages, which makes it truly accessible to people everywhere.

How it works at Cornerstone

At Cornerstone Church Bristol, we run the course because we believe it provides a safe and welcoming environment for exploring life and faith. Each session follows a simple format:

Food – we begin by sharing a meal or refreshments. This creates a relaxed environment and time to connect.
A short talk or video introduces the topic for the evening. The talks are designed to inspire conversation rather than give all the answers.
Discussion – We then break into small groups, where everyone has the opportunity to share their thoughts, listen to others, and ask questions freely.

No question is off limits, and no one is forced to speak—instead, Alpha values open discussion and genuine curiosity.

Why join Alpha?

People join for many reasons. Some are asking questions like:

Is there more to life than this?
Does God exist?
What difference does faith make in the world today?

Others join because a friend invited them, or because they want to revisit the foundations of their faith. Whatever your starting point, Alpha offers time to think, to listen, and to talk.