Alpha’s ecumenical man
The Revd Nicky Gumbel, of Holy Trinity Brompton, an evangelical church in west London, and the pioneer behind the Alpha course on Christianity, claims not to like labels. If he had to choose, he wants them all: Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, Evangelical. Therefore it’s no surprise that ecumenical relations between his church and Catholics seem to be flourishing: he spent last week in Rome visiting members of the Catholic hierarchy, including Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle, whom he described as being full of fun. He also spent several days with Jean Vanier at L’Arche – the community for people with learning difficulties.

Since Catholic churches started running their own versions of the Alpha course, relations have strengthened and the latest series of Alpha films features Pope Francis, Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Benedictine Br Luigi Gioia and Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household. “It’s a very ecumenical resource,” the Revd Gumbel told The Tablet. “I hope Catholics will be helped by it”.