Nicky Gumbel

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CBE
Gumbel in 2009
Born
Nicholas Glyn Paul Gumbel

(1955-04-28) 28 April 1955 (age 69)
London, England
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Priest, author, barrister
Spouse
Pippa
​
(m. 1978)​
ReligionChristianity (Anglican)
ChurchChurch of England
Ordained
  • 1986 (deacon)
  • 1987 (priest)
Offices held

Nicholas Glyn Paul Gumbel

Alpha Course, a basic introduction to Christianity supported by churches of many Christian traditions. He was Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton in the Diocese of London, Church of England
from 2005 to 2022.

Early life and career

Nicky Gumbel was born on 28 April 1955 in

Nazi purges. Walter Gumbel emigrated to Britain and became a successful barrister.[4] Gumbel's mother, Muriel, was a barrister and nominal Christian.[5]

Gumbel was educated at

Holy Trinity Brompton Church, Knightsbridge.[9] In January 1978, Gumbel married at the church,[10] Pippa, with whom he would go on to have three children.[11]

In 1982, Gumbel announced his decision to leave the bar to train for ordination in the

Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.[3] He graduated with a BA degree in 1986; as per tradition,[7] his BA degree was later promoted to an MA degree.[8]

Ordained ministry

Gumbel was

Alpha Chaplain, though he remained at HTB as a curate.[12] In 2005, Gumbel was officially installed as Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton Church.[8] The previous vicar, Sandy Millar, had retired from stipendiary ministry and became an assistant bishop in the Diocese of London.[citation needed
]

In 2007, Gumbel was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire as recognition of his broad contribution to the wider church through Alpha.[citation needed]

He was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to the Church of England.[13]

Alpha Course

In 1990, Gumbel took over the running of the

Alpha Course that had been running there since 1977.[9] The course was transformed under his leadership from being one designed for new Christians to one primarily for those outside the church who would not consider themselves Christians.[citation needed] Gumbel serves as the public face of the course, being described by James Heard as something of a "Weberian[clarification needed] charismatic leader".[14]

Gumbel is the author of a number of books related to the Alpha Course, including Questions of Life which has sold over 1,000,000 copies.[citation needed] Voted "Christian Book of the Year" in 1994, it has been published in 48 languages.[citation needed] Other related books include Why Jesus, Searching Issues, Telling Others, A Life Worth Living, Challenging Lifestyle, Heart of Revival, and 30 Days.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-8028-1771-6
    .
  2. ISBN 978-1-62032-809-5
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e Bell, Matthew (31 March 2013). "Inside the Alpha Course – British Christianity's Biggest Success Story". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ "The London Gazette - 7 May 1940" (PDF). The London Gazette. 7 May 1940.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-1-60899-450-2
    .
  6. ^ Bell, Matthew (30 November 2013). "Alpha: The Slickest, Richest, Fastest-Growing Division of the Church of England". The Spectator. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Chapter 4: Regulations for the Degree of Master of Arts". University of Oxford Examination Decrees and Regulations for the Academic Year 2005–2006. Oxford University Press. 2005. p. 563.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Nicholas Glyn Paul Gumbel". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  9. ^ a b Gumbel, Nicky (28 August 2009). "Nicky Gumbel Interview Transcript". The Guardian. Interviewed by Rutherford, Adam. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  10. ISBN 978-0-8264-7833-7
    .
  11. ^ Ronson, Jon (21 October 2000). "Catch Me If You Can". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  12. ^ Gumbel, Nicky (21 September 2005). "Interview: Rev Nicky Gumbel, Alpha Course Chaplain". Christian Today. Interviewed by Clark, Andrew. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  13. ^ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N10.
  14. ISBN 978-1-60899-450-2
    .

Further reading

External links

Church of England titles
Preceded by Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton
2005–2022 		Succeeded by
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