Despite declining church attendance in the UK, the alpha movement, designed primarily for non church goers, has been embraced by more of the British public year by year, and Edinburgh’s students are no exception.

The Alpha movement originated at the Holy Trinity Brompton in Knightsbridge, London, and promulgates a charismatic form of Christianity that is ecumenical, running across most Christian denominations. The movement has spread worldwide and is endorsed by leading ecclesiastical figures.

The alpha programme involves a ten week course educating attendants in the basics of the Christian faith. An alpha evening, differing from the traditional western pattern of evangelistic sermons, consists of a meal, a talk and a discussion in small groups of questions concerning God. The course often culminates in a weekend away where participants are introduced to the "person" of the Holy Spirit; many experiencing "glossalalia", the gift of speaking in tongues of the holy language.

The formula seems to work and has expanded from the five courses available in London in 1992, to 35,385 courses in 163 countries, reaching an estimated 13 million people to date. According to the group's website, alphafriends.org, 6,657 organisations run in the UK; 67 in Edinburgh with 11 courses specifically for students.

Morningside Baptist Church (MBC) is one such organisation, currently running two alpha courses.

Karl Martin, senior pastor at MBC told The Journal: “Our story as a church is that we have seen dramatic increase in numbers over the past three years. From 250 to 750. Many of these are students who are seeking God. They are recognising that if they want love and purpose and wisdom and life, then running away from the source of these things makes no sense.

“They are finding God in Jesus and a relevant vibrant community. The Alpha course is awesome as a safe way for people to ask their questions and encounter God-shaped answers.”

Lawrence Callaghan, 22, studies BA drawing and painting at Edinburgh College of Art, and at 14 whilst at a youth camp meeting, directly experienced God that became the basis for his faith: “At the beginning of university, I was part of a small group that follows alpha guidelines, but it has expanded over the past three years and resultantly has had to split. It’s really wonderful to see what it has grown into, we have developed a passion and a vision and the growth has occurred accordingly. We can see God in each other and we delight in that, as a community we are like a family.”

Mr Callaghan, places a great deal of importance on spreading the faith, “we want to show that there is fullness and a higher level of love that everyone can have: God wants to know his children. We want to make it accessible and inclusive; we hold dinner parties to discuss faith and have organised an art collective, so that we can be culturally aware without being too self-conscious.”

Earlier this month, Christian groups organised the "love gig" where free music and baked goods were available to believers and non-believers alike, with everyone receiving a free "piece of art" that was a page of scripture with a red heart painted on.

Social action is very important to the Christian community in Edinburgh, Mr Callaghan explains that “all the mess comes from living separately from God, I am saddened and puzzled by the fact that not more people have not found God, especially when some people need to hear good news – like the homeless for example, they need to hear that God will provide good news in the form of heating, food and shelter.”

Paul Boylan, 22 is in his fourth year studying History at Edinburgh University, and converted to Christianity a year ago. He tells The Journal: “It was a complete fundamental status change for me, I went to a dinner party and then to a couple of services and pursued an academic interest in Christianity. I realised, 'how could I refuse the offer of God’s unconditional love?' Living in any other way could only be second best.

“It’s about ontology; the way of being rather than something that is acquired. It does fill a void and a need; not knowing God is a deprivation. I believe that if people really look they will find what they are seeking; you have to decide whether to accept that your identity is bound up with Christ and enter into a relationship with him.

Jessamy Irwin Clark, 21 studying History of Art and English Literature at Edinburgh University agrees that her faith is about being in a direct relationship with God: “I have experienced difficult circumstances in my life, but time and time again I have prayed to God and my prayers have been answered. In my family we call them "God-incidences’.

Ms Irwin Clark, Mr Boylan and Mr Callaghan agree that during their time at university more students have turned to God.

Mr Boylan said that, while “it is true that Christianity has become more fashionable with many young bands, such as Marcus Mumford and Sons being believers”, it is something more than that.

“I think that when anyone listens to those lyrics something resonates deep within us that is connected with God. More people are choosing to believe in God and acknowledging that there is more to life, things have gone wrong and human beings have a lot to answer for, people need to take time to reflect and realise that we are made to be in a relationship with God. I think students are particularly more open to thinking about those bigger questions and university is a formative time in their lives.”

However, not everyone has greeted the growth of the alpha course in such enthusiastic terms. One non-believing student at Edinburgh University told The Journal, that it appears to be vulnerable people in particular who are being approached: “I think Christian conversion really has helped some people and it is always very well intentioned, but as a non-believer I feel there are elements that are quite sinister, and their methods can come across as cultish. I feel that Christian groups target people who are in vulnerable positions; I feel that I got taken on as a friend and eventual flatmate because I was a potential candidate for conversion.

“There is an element of judgement and it is disconcerting to be told by a friend that they are worried as a non-believer that I will go to hell, it seems bizarre that this apocalyptic notion of faith still exists.”

The student continued: “I think there is a distinction between those that are brought up Christian and those who are recent converts, and the reasons for that conversion. As well intentioned as it is, there is a pattern emerging that shows that people experiencing grief or depression in some form are approached. It’s a huge network of friends that provides a supportive community but is not necessarily the only option for replacing something that is lacking.”

Ms Irwin Clark, deems that believing in God is not a about having a crutch, but rather experiencing the full abundance of life, “entering into a relationship with God is like falling in love and God wants to have a relationship with everyone.”

Ms Irwin Clark believes there is not one type who converts to Christianity, “of course some people who are interested in the faith are struggling, but there is no underlying theme, rather it is when people stop to think and choose to contemplate the bigger questions or have come to a crossroads in their life.”

“Its about faith, rather than religion, there is no intention to thrust it down people’s throats but I want to spread what I know. It is true that Christianity moves in waves – if the people around you believe, you are more likely to become interested in the faith. It feels selfish not to try and help people, to let them know that they are loved and could have a truly joyful and content life. Through discussing faith at dinner parties and in small groups, I think we are taking faith out of the funny box hidden under a pew in some old church onto the sofa where it can be openly discussed.”

Earlier this month, the Anglican Church—which has previously advocated a cautious, liberal approach to conversion—is now calling for Anglicans to “go forth and evangelise”. To convert non-Christian believers the Church’s general synod, backed a motion to force its bishops to report on their “understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in Britain’s multifaith society” and offer guidance on “the gospel of salvation” with people of other faiths and of no faith. For church leaders, at least, the current wave of Christian evangelism and conversion is a trend that, they hope, will only continue to expand.