In a time where the rhythms of ordinary life had been emptied out, the national lockdown left space for those wanting to go deeper with God.

Reverend Paul McIntosh of St Anne’s Northland-Wilton oversaw an online Alpha course in lockdown with a team of six leaders after a prompting from Bishop Justin Duckworth. The Alpha course ran from the 24th of May for ten weeks, with nineteen participants on a broad spectrum of faith journeys.

The virtual nature of the course brought its own unique challenges and opportunities. With more accessibility, Paul felt that there were some who took part who wouldn’t have been able to otherwise, while at the same time there had to be a smaller net cast to the community, with many getting involved as a result of the live-stream cathedral services.

One participant, Alan, had become a Christian during lockdown and took part in the Alpha course to learn more and ask questions about faith. “As a result of people praying for me, I experienced first-hand the presence of the Holy Spirit. I know God in my heart now rather than intellectually.”

The course received some very positive feedback, with many people finding it a safe space to ask honest and vulnerable questions about God that might not come up on a Sunday. Those that took part expressed that they felt greater peace and love over the course, along with a strengthening of their faith. Paul explained that there was also a sense of empowering and commissioning, with a few people signing up to run other Alpha courses in their communities; “it wasn’t just a holy little bubble”.

Reverend Paul McIntosh is currently finishing up a three-part post-Alpha series for a small handful of people from the course who are not as connected to specific faith communities, hoping to help them find a sense of belonging going forwards.

By Holly Morton