Nicholas (Nicky) Glyn Paul Gumbel (born April 28, 1955 in London) is an Anglican priest and author. He is most famous as the developer of the Alpha course [1], a basic introduction to Christianity. Gumbel took an MA at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1976. In 1983 he began studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. A former barrister, Gumbel joined the staff of Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London as a curate is 1986. He was ordained priest in 1987. In 1990 he took over the running of the Alpha Course that had been running there since 1973.