Editing Alpha course (section)

== Usage ==

[[File:Alpha Course advertised on Church,Queensferry - geograph.org.uk - 1527038.jpg|thumb|The Alpha course being advertised at a church in [[South Queensferry]], Edinburgh]]

Although originating from the [[evangelical Anglican]] tradition, Alpha is now used in various denominations around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutherford |first=Adam |date=28 August 2009 |title=Nicky Gumbel interview transcript - Adam Rutherford |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/aug/28/religion-christianity-alpha-gumbel-transcript |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617044832/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/aug/28/religion-christianity-alpha-gumbel-transcript |archive-date=17 June 2019 |access-date=17 June 2019 |via=www.theguardian.com |quote="all the major denominations around the world"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=John |title=Alpha program for prospective Christians looks to plant roots in Thompson |url=https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/news/thompson/alpha-program-for-prospective-christians-looks-to-plant-roots-in-thompson-1.1371296 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617044833/https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/news/thompson/alpha-program-for-prospective-christians-looks-to-plant-roots-in-thompson-1.1371296 |archive-date=17 June 2019 |access-date=17 June 2019 |website=Thompson Citizen |date=25 August 2010 |quote=There are over 7,000 courses running in the United Kingdom and over 44,000 worldwide in various denominations.}}</ref> Its supporters include many Catholic cardinals, Anglican archbishops and bishops,<ref name="The Bishops and Archbishops">{{Cite web |title=Got Questions - Try Alpha |url=http://uk.alpha.org/media-room/bishops |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725062411/http://uk.alpha.org/media-room/bishops |archive-date=25 July 2008}}</ref> and leading figures of all denominations. Former [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[George Carey]] described the courses as "superb."<ref name="Archbishop launches Alpha course" /> [[Rowan Williams]] was an enthusiastic supporter when he was [[Bishop of Monmouth]] and [[Archbishop of Wales]], and he continued his support as Archbishop of Canterbury,<ref name="Archbishop launches Alpha course">{{Cite web |date=30 September 2004 |title=Archbishop launches Alpha course |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3703708.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218170718/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3703708.stm |archive-date=18 February 2009 |access-date=27 October 2009 |website=BBC.co.uk}}</ref> opening an Alpha conference and accepting an invitation to speak at an Alpha supper in London in 2004. He has described it as "a very special tool" and "a unique mixture of Christian content and Christian style".<ref name="The Bishops and Archbishops" />  Father [[Raniero Cantalamessa]], a monk of the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]] and [[Preacher to the Papal Household]] for [[Pope Benedict XVI]] wrote a document praising Alpha in June 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cantalamessa |first=Raniero |date=27 June 2005 |title=Faith Which Overcomes The World |url=http://www.christlife.org/resources/articles/Cantalamessafaith.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090723/http://www.christlife.org/resources/articles/Cantalamessafaith.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2014 |website=ChristLife.org}}</ref>