Youth Alpha

“I’m biased of course but I think this is the best cathedral going.”

... So said Richard White, Cannon of Mission and Evangelism and the person who had invited the Youth Alpha team to train up and inspire a load of young people and youth workers to run Youth Alpha!

We asked him to tell us a little bit about how he found the day...

“It was fantastic to welcome the Youth Alpha Tour to Liverpool Cathedral recently. I’m biased of course but I think this is the best cathedral going.

A young man in his early twenties, Giles Gilbert Scott, won the competition to design this cathedral and he spent the rest of his life working on it, creating the largest Anglican cathedral in the world. Each year we welcome half a million visitors, and host over 13,000 school children on visits.

Giles Gilbert Scott, 21, won a competition to design Liverpool Cathedral

Eighteen months ago we committed ourselves to running the Alpha Course every term, and it’s been thrilling to see the incredible range of people that this has impacted.

We were aware that there was still far more to learn in translating that to a vibrant and appropriate way to engage youth, and so were keen to learn about Youth Alpha.

An initial conversation with Alpha Central led to the idea of hosting the Youth Alpha training tour here, both to come along and learn ourselves, but also do one those things cathedrals exist for - resourcing the wider church in mission.

The cathedral exists for resourcing the wider church in mission.

One church group travelled a round trip of 360 miles to attend the day, and another 170 miles!

Over half of those attending were youth. Worship on the day was wonderfully led by Josh, Abi and Jon, part of the youth band at St Marks, Haydock.

Everyone seems to have learned a great deal and left encouraged. We are certainly clear that a Youth Alpha course will be part of the Liverpool Cathedral diary early in 2012!”

Our wonderful Youth Alpha Advisers Tom, Vicky and Liz headed up the day – they were brilliant! We’re thinking through our training plans for 2012; send us an email if you’d like us to come to you on youth@alpha.org.