The Alpha course is a basic introduction to Christianity supported by churches of many Christian traditions. The Alpha course has been led by the clergy at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) The Alpha course was started in 1977 by Charles Marnham, a curate at (HTB), a parish of the Church of England in London. It was a course a originally meant for church members to help them with the basics of belief commonly held by believers in Christ. It then developed into an introduction for those interested in knowing about Christianity. John Irvine in 1981, a curate at HTB, took over the course and developed it into the 10 week course which continues to this day. Nicky Lee in 1985 and then Nicky Gumbel (1990 - present) , then took over the reigns in the UK. In 1996 the Bishop of London appointed Nicky Gumbel as Alpha Chaplain. Nicky, at the time was still the curate at HTB. In 2005, when the previous vicar Sandy Millar retired, Nicky was installed as vicar of HTB. Under his leadership the course was transformed/developed from one designed for new Christians to one primarily for those outside the church who would not consider themselves Christians. Nicky has written a number of books related to The* Alpha* course. Questions of life - sold 1 million copies, published in 48 languages & voted Christian Book of the year 1994. Plus 7 more books. In the USA Gerard Bramwell Long was responsible for the Alpha course from 2006-14 -(resigned due to daughter drowning). The course grew rapidly in Britain in the 1990s. From 4 courses in 1991 to 2,5000 courses in 1995. In 1998, when it was at its peak, 10,500 courses. In 2001 it had fallen to 7,300. In 2018 the Alpha website described the course as running in over 100 countries, in 100 languages and with 24 million having taken the course. The courses, developed by Nicky Gumbel, are being run by most Christian denominations, throughout the world, with some variation in course material.

When I wrote Four Wise Men which looked at St. David(W), St. Patrick(I), St. Andrew (S) and St George(E) a number of different front covers were created. All four patron saint titles stand separately as individual sets of work on this web site. The Welsh flag is the red lion on a white/green back ground but the St. David flag is a gold cross on a black background. I also created several blanks which pupils could colour. I thought they would be useful if the pupils wanted to bring the four of them together in one booklet.

I have put together some sheets about St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. There is a cover followed by two information sheets and two large font sheets detailing basic data. There are two ‘gap’ pieces of work (differentiated), a crossword which requires a picture answer, a word search, sheets about words found in Patrick, pictorial information how St. Patrick’s flag became part of the Union Jack, plus ideas for a diary and a ‘blank’ for the ‘best’ copy diary. David Woodroffe, a professional illustrator, created the art work I have used.

I have put together a number of pictures which younger children could use when R.E. is being taught.

Theodore was a British Christian evangelist and author. He was known as Mr. Sparks or TAS. He was born in London but at a young age moved to Scotland to live with his father’s relatives. Aged 17 he decided to become a Christian having listened to a group of young street preachers in Glasgow. He saw the truth of believer’s baptism and as a result got baptized and left the Church of Scotland. Theodore, at the age of 24, was ordained a Baptist and Congregational minister. He became one of Dr. Campbell Morgan’s young men. For 14 years (1912-26) he led 3 congregations in Greater London. During this time he saw a tremendous change in his congregations. The nominal Christians became ‘born again’ -one after another found the Lord and this turned the church inside out. Theodore had established himself as a conference speaker especially on teaching the Bible, but a tension was building up inside . He said to his wife, ‘’ I’m going to my study _ _ _ _ .’’ He read Romans chapter 6 - a chapter he knew well-** but this time it was as if heaven opened, and light shone into his heart and for the first time he understood that he was crucified with Christ and the Holy Spirit was within and upon him.** He emerged from his study a changed man. He began to preach Christ, he began to magnify the Lord Jesus, and the church came into an altogether new experience. He soon began to preach ‘the way of the cross.’ The new experience instead of opening every pulpit, closed them. The authorities thought he was dangerous/unbalanced. The Baptist Federation, in 1926, wanted a ‘Make More Baptist Year’. Theodore’s church wanted to ’ bring more people to the Lord’ and would not take part. The Federation had the title deeds to the church and house and within a week Theodore was out! A titled lady, who was a missionary in India, and in England at the time, came to his rescue… A local boys’ school had become vacant and she bought the whole property and gave it to the church. Honor Oak became his family’s home and later became the Honor Oak Christian Fellowship and Conference Centre. Theodore resigned his baptist ordination. The congregation at Honor Oak all agreed to leave the Baptist denomination. With like-minded Christians he established a conference and training centre at Honor Hall. Theodore’s ministry went from local , to national, to an international ministry. In the early days of the conferences people had tremendous experiences of the Spirit of the Lord and of the cross of Christ. A Witness and a Testimony a bi-monthly magazine was published (1923-1971). He published most of his messages in the magazine. His speaking ministry took him around the world. His Christian Fellowship Centre was international. Many trained under his ministry became missionaries and Christian teachers. At the end of his life he was a lone, prophetic voice in a spiritual wilderness Sources used The Life and Ministry of TAS Wikipedia

Dorothy Ripley was a British evangelist who went to the USA in 1801 and died in 1831 in Virginia. By confession she was a Quaker but she had been raised a Methodist. Dorothy was born in Whitby. Her father, William was a close associate of John Wesley. Wesley encouraged women to preach and William wanted his child to be a preacher. When Wesley visited he brought his group of women preachers with him. Her father, who died while she was still a teenager, encouraged her toward that vocation. On his death there were financial problems and other set backs which profoundly impacted on her . Dorothy believed she was called to Christian ministry and decided not to marry. She went to the USA on at least 9 occasions, most times travelling alone. She spent time as an itinerant preacher in New York, South Carolina and Georgia. She faced many challenges especially that she was a female preacher. To live she relied entirely on donations from people who believed in her ministry. The title of her second book The Bank of Faith and Works United explained her perseverance and the fact that her preaching won over her opponents since she continue to preach to large crowds. On her first trip in 1801 she gained an audience with President Thomas Jefferson. She rebuked him for his slave ownership but secured the ‘approbation’ to minister to slaves and slave owners. She founded a school to educate freed slaves. Dorothy preached in many African-American churches. Some male preachers were hesitant to let her preach but she won them over. 12 th January, 1806, she was the first woman to speak at USA capital. (Read D R 1st woman to preach sheet) In the UK she assisted Hugh Bourne in starting Primitive Methodism. With Lorenzo Dow the 3 of them conducted revival services and many people were brought into Primitive Methodist circles. One tour included a stay in prison for a night when she and the eccentric Dow were arrested. Dorothy wrote 6 books in total. Rose Butler had 11 editions published . In 1827 she had published in Philadelpia *Memoirs of William Ripley * (See Publishing career and WorldCat Identities) At her death in 1831, aged 64, one newspaper wrote in her obituary that she was perhaps the most extraordinary woman in the world. Sources used History.House. GOV WorldCat identities wikipedia

Pastor Michael Mcbride is known as Pastor Mike.He has been active in ministry for early 20 years. In 2013 he was in a group of 13 Faith Leaders to Watch. In 2000 graduated from Bethany College with a double B.A. in Addition Studies and Theology. In 2005 he graduated with a M.A. from Duke University Divinity School. In June 2005 he launched a new ministry, The Way Christian Center in West Berkeley where he currently serves as pastor. Over the past 10 years he has been committed to a holistic ministry through his leadership roles in both church and community. ( See 2 lists of positions held). Berkeleyside, an American ‘paper’ on June 5th, 2020. published Pastor Michael McBride’s thoughts on the present unrest in the USA - *The brutality of policing is reaching a breaking point in the social consciousness * He spoke to Berkeleyside about reasons for hope, Berkeley’s role and what can be done to effect meaningful change. I have enclosed the article Sources Huffpost Berkeleyside

A Christmas and New Year Vocabulary plus a clip art picture for the diary.

Here are 17 drawings David Woodroffe created for my book Travel Records Inventions Pioneers Success.

I have put together a number of Poetry and Vocabulary Aids about the winter season. The Poetry aids are set up in alphabetical order vertically and horizontally. There are also some clip art pictures, drawn by David Woodroffe, an established illustrator.

A very good diagram to show how a lock works - drawn by David Woodroffe an established illustrator. Plus a vocabulary about rivers and canals.

Brownlow North was an English evangelist. Brownlow was born in Winchester House, Chelsea the only son of Rev, Augustus North. He was the grandson of the former bishop of Winchester, Brownlow North. Brornlow was educated at Eton College, Windsor. For a while he lived with his great uncle Frederick on the island of Corfu. \he fought with Dom Pedro’s army in Portugal before eventually settling in Scotland. He lived a life of pleasure enjoying hunting and gambling. He went to Magdalen Hall, Oxford . In November 1854 he experienced a religious conversion and began to attend Elgin Free Church where he proceeded to engage in public preaching. 1859 he was appointed an evangelist by the Free Church of Scotland. In the same year he became a significant figure in the Ulster revival where he preached to 12,000 at Newtonlimavady. Rabbi Duncan once remarked, on seeing a photograph of Brownlow There is intellect in the brow, genius in the eye, and eloquence in the mouth. Brownlow died on 9th November 1875 and is buried in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh. I have included information about his grandfather, Brownlow, the bishop of Winchester Source used wikipedia

Edward is probably best remembered for his hymn All hail the power of Jesus’ name. Edward was born in Sundridge, Kent, England. He was descendant of a French Huguenot family which fled first to Switzerland and then to England to escape religious persecution. Edward was the son of Vincent Perronet, an Anglican priest, who worked closely with John and Charles Wesley for many years during the 18th century revival. Vincent in 1728 became vicar at Shoreham church in Kent. At the time persecution of the new Methodist movement was common and John Wesley noted in his diary that Edward* was thrown down and rolled in the mud and mire* at Bolton. Edward was considered a capable preacher but the did not like preaching in front of John Wesley. On one occasion John announced that Edward would speak. He got up and read Christ’s Sermon on the mount and sat down ! In 1756 in* The Mitre* - the first prominent event in his life, he published a ferocious attack on the Church of England. This created a schism. He became one of the Countess of Huntingdon’s ministers in a chapel in Watling Street, Canterbury. Throughout he was passionate, impulsive strong willed but always lived near his his divine master.* He bursts in full of fire and enthusiasm, yet ebullient and volatile.* Edward eventually became a minister of an independent congregation. In his life time he wrote a number of hymns and published 3 volumes of Christian poems. His hymns were published anonymously in successive volumes .Select passages of the Old and New Testament. A small collection of Hymns. Occasional Verses, moral and sacred. ( The Rev A. B. Grosart gives a critic of Edward’s work on the second page of the Hymnary Sheet) Shortly before he died, on 2nd January 1792, he uttered these words- Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God in the depth of humanity! Glory to God in His all sufficiency! Into His hands I commend my spirit. Edward was buried in Canterbury Cathedral. At his death he is said to have left a large sum of money to Shrubsole, who was the organist at Spatfield’s Chapel, London, and who had composed the tune ‘Miles Lane’ for All hail the power of Jesus’’ name! I have included one version of* All Hail the power of Jesus’ name.* Sources used Hymnary.org wikipedia

John Cannick was an early Methodist and Moravian evangelist and hymn writer. He was born in Reading, Berkshire, England to an Anglican family, originally from Bohemia, and raised in the Church of England. Aged 9 he heard his dying aunt proclaim Last night the Lord stood by me and invited me to drink of the fountain of life freely and I shall stand before the Lord as bold as a lion . These words stayed with him for many years. He dreaded going to bed in case he would end up in hell. He prayed each night that he would be good the next day - he never succeeded. Aged 13 and from humble means he left school to find an apprenticeship. 8 times he made the trip to London but failed to get a job. From 17-19 he suffered from depression. His conversion He entered St. Lawrence church, Reading on the 6th September, in 1937. Heard these words from Psalm 34 v19-22b Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivered him out of them all. And he putteth his trust in God shall not be desolate. His heart danced. He heard Jesus say* I am they salvation*. ( Read The conversion of John Cennick) John worked as a surveyor in Reading. He read the writings of George W.hitfield he met the Wesleys. John joined the growing Methodist movement .He began to write hymns. Charles Wesley wrote in his Diary* I corrected Mr, Cennick’s hymns for the press* (July 1739). In 1740, on John Wesley’s recommendation, he taught at Kingswood, England. On Kingswood Hill a crowd of colliers had assembled for a service. The expected preacher did not show up, John stepped into the breach. When Whitfield returned from America John was asked to join him on his preaching tours. In 1745 John went over to the Morovians and went to Germany to study their doctrines. In 1747 Baptists heard him preach and invited him to Dublin. After differences with his hosts he concentrated on Ulster. Between 1747-52 he founded 220 Moravian Societies and helped to establish Evangelicalism in Ireland. John spent time in England and Ireland as an itinerant evangelist. Enduring aat times violent opposition. By the time of his death in 1755 he had established 40 churches. Throughout the rest of his short career and life he published several collections of hymns. His conversion came during a normal church service and not even through preaching but through the reading of a Psalm. We see how God uses ‘normal’ worhship to bring people to himself. Too often we underestimate the importance of the normal church service. Sources used Evangelical Times wikipedia

Saint Matthew or Levi was one of the twelve original disciples of Jesus. According to the Gospels Matthew was a 1st century Galilean. He is referred to as being a publican or tax collector in Capernaum before becoming one of the twelve apostles. He would have witnessed first hand Jesus carrying out his miracles and speaking parables. He would have witnessed much of Jesus’ last three years of his ministry including the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. His ministry after Christ’s resurrection is vague. Christian fathers such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria claim that Matthew preached th gospel to the Jewish community in Judea before going to other countries. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches each hold the tradition that he died a marytr. Did Matthew write the Saint Matthew’s gospel ? The author is not named within the text. Papias of Hierapolis (c60-163 AD) is cited by church historian Eusebius (260-340 AD as saying *Matthew collected the oracles, in the Hebrew language and each interpreted them as best he could. Sources used wlkipedia and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander.

It is difficult to separate Valentine’s Day from Saint Valentine. Valentine means -worthy, strong, powerful. 14th of February is celebrated with balloons, cards, flowers, with romantic meals and proposals of marriage. There are many legends about Saint Valentine. He restored the sight of a judge’s daughter. He is supposed to have helped Christian couples to get married so the husbands could avoid being conscripted into the army. Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment-first valentine cards? Helping Christians was a crime. Emperor Gothicus Claudius is supposed to have quite liked the prisoner until he attempted to convert him - he then had him condemned him to death Saint Valentine, from prison, is said to have completed a letter to the jailer’s daughter he had healed, with the words ’ from your Valentine Saint Valentine having been imprisoned and tortured was a short time later to be martyred, by being behead, for his Christian faith. Sources used wikipedia and awareness days.

Saint Matthias was the person chosen, by the disciples to replace Judas Iscariot. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that Peter stood up in the company - there were 120 of them in the room at the time and spoke about the need to replace Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus. Two followers were nominated Matthias and Barnabas. The company prayed and the ‘lot’ fell upon Matthias. Five traditions are mentioned in wikipedia. The tradition of the Greeks say he planted the faith about Cappadocia and the coasts of the Caspian Sea, living near the port of Issus. According to Nicephorus he preached first in Judaea and then Aethiopia (modern Georgia) - and stoned to death. The Synopsis of Dorotheus suggests he went to Ethiopia and was buried near the temple of the Sun. Another suggests he was stoned in Jerusalem by the local populace and then beheaded. According to Hippolytus he died of old age in Jerusalem. His Feast day, in the Roman calendar, was 24th February (25th on a leap year) . In 1969 it was transfered to 24th of May. I have included the prayer for Saint Matthias . Sources wikipedia and the Church’s year by Charles Alexander.

He is probably best remembered as J.B. Phillips the translator/ author ofThe New Testament in Modern English which was published in 1958. During World War II (1939-45), while down in the bomb shelters, he began to translate The New Testament, from the original Greek, into modern English. He started with the epistle to the Colossians. The results appealed to the young people. The positive feedback after the war resulted in him translating the rest of the New Testament into colloquial English.Initially he had problems to find a publisher but with the help of C.S. Lewis, author of The Narnia Chronicles, Geoffrey Bles agreed to help. ** Letters to Young Churches came first in1947. Eleven years later in 1958 the complete New Testament was published. From someone who suffered from clinical depression throughout his life this was an incredible achievement. He described the revelation he received, as he translated the New Testament, as ’ extraordinarily alive’. Main source - Wikipedia

Wang Mung -Dao was born in Beijing, China. As a child he experienced extreme poverty and repeated illness but lived to be 90 years of age. As a child he attended the London Missionary Society School. He dream was to be a great political instead he became a Christian pastor. Aged 14 he converted to Christianity. He became a very successful independent Chinese Protestant pastor. From February 1925 until 1955 he began holding religious meetings. He founded the Christian tabernacle which by 1937 had its own building seating a congregation of several hundred. he had an itinerant ministry throughout China visiting 24 out of 28 provinces taking the pupit in churches of 30 different denominations. In 1955 the Chinese government imprisoned him for his faith. For 25 years he was kept in jail - finally released in 1980. It was after his imprisonment that he wrote the 6 books mentioned. On his release he had many foreign visitors which worried the authorities. Betwee 1987 -1989 he became frail and his mental abilities noticeably declined. I 1991 he was diagnose with blood clots and he died on July 28th 1992. One authority noted 'he remained an unrivaled symbol of uncompromising faith until his death.’ Source used wikipedia.

Charles Haddon Sturgeon was strong figure in the Reformed Baptist Tradition. Although he died over a 100 years ago his work is still read/quoted/used by preachers today -such is his influence still. He has been called the Prince of Preachers. His oratory skills are said to have held his listeners spell bound in the Metropolitan Tabernacle where he preached for 38 years. Converted at aged 15 he gave his first sermon aged 16 . The quality of his sermons were very quickly recognised and aged only 19, following three months on probation, he was called to the pastorate at London’s New Park Street Chapel which had the largest baptist congregation in London. His ability as a preacher soon made him famous His sermons, which lasted up to two hours were carefully prepared. He wrote it out in full but only took notes up into the pulpit.in 1855 the first of his sermons were published in the* New Park Street Pulpit* Stenographers would write his sermon down. Charles would check it and it would then be immediately published and sold for 1 penny a copy. In 1861 the church moved to the new purpose built Metropolitan Tabernacle which held 5,000 seated and 1, 000 standing. He published a vast amount of religious material - see works list. He was anti slavery . His ministry was not without controversy. He opposed the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the church of his day - see information about Downgrade Source- wikipedia and have included a short crossword and word search.