Previous and Future Quest Conferences

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The next / future conference(s)

2022 Bristol: ‘Walking Together’, Professor Adriaan van Klinken, Dr Nicolete Burbach, Dr Anne-Marie Martindale and Jay Hulme (15 – 17 July 2022 at the University of Bristol)

2023: Manchester: ‘The Impossible Dream – 50 years on‘ Quest will be 50 years old in 2023.  The 2023 conference is scheduled to take place from the 21 July to Sunday 23 of July 2023.


Past Conferences

1982 Leicester: ‘Faith, hope and love’, Fr Kevin McDonald, Oscott

1983 York: ‘God, my neighbour and myself’, Dr Owen Dudley Edwards, Edinburgh University

1984 Birmingham: ‘For the love of God’, Brian Doyle, CM, Damascus House, London

1985 Sheffield: ‘Neglect not the gift that is within you’, Raphael Gallagher, CssR, College of SS Thomas & Paul, Minnesota

1986 Leeds: ‘Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief’, Robert Nugent, SDS, New Ways Ministry

1987 Birmingham: ‘Let us speak the truth in love’, James Hanvey, SJ, Campion Hall, Oxford

1988 Birmingham: ‘You shall be my witnesses’, Joseph Less, SCJ, Irvine

1989 Glasgow: ‘The family in Quest’, Dr Jack Dominian, Mrs Rose Robertson


1990 Liverpool: ‘In the image of God’. Gareth Moore, OP, Blackfriars, Oxford, and Dr Elizabeth Stuart, College of St Mark & St John, Plymouth

1991 Liverpool: ‘Lesbian and gay Catholics in the Decade of Evangelisation’, Dr Gerard Loughlin, Newcastle upon Tyne University

1992 Leeds: ‘Church teaching: Acceptance and Rejection’, Fr Michael O’Dowd, Ushaw

1993 London: ‘The Church Militant: Celebrating Quest’s first 20 years’

1994 Edinburgh: ‘Friends . . . not slaves’, Dr Bernard Hoose, Heythrop College, London

1995 Manchester: ‘Who are my family?’, Nicholas Peter Harvey, Queen’s College, Birmingham

1996 Leeds: ‘Quest 2000’, Michael Walsh, Heythrop College, London

1997 Birmingham: ‘Accepted and Welcome’, Professor Joseph Selling, University of Louvain

1998 London: ‘Thanksgiving 1973-1998’, Dr Evan Harris, MP; Revd Malcolm Johnson, C of E; Duncan LustigPrean, Rank Outsiders; Angela Mason, Stonewall; Professor Elizabeth Stuart, King Alfred’s, Winchester; Keith Vaz, MP

1999 Bath: ‘Partnerships’ – talks by Quest members


2000 Leicester: ‘Living the Gift’, The Revd Neil Whitehouse, Kairos, Soho

2001 Ditchingham ‘Catholic Morality and Sexual Reality’, James O’Connell, Emiritus Porfessor of Peace Studies, University of Bradford and Gareth Moore, OP, Blackfriars, Oxford

2002 London Colney ‘Questions of Conscience’, James Alison, Theologian, Priest & Author and Linda Hogan, Lecturer in Ethics and International Affairs, Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin

2003 Birmingham: ‘Legislation: Implications for Gay and Lesbian Catholics’, Ian Buist, Director of PLAN Intentional and Mark Watson, Managing Director of PlanetOut Partners UK Ltd

2004 Glasgow: ‘Lesbian and Gay Spirituality’, Fr Richard Finn, OP, Dom Laurence Freeman, OSB

2005 Liverpool: ‘Collaborative Ministry – Our Place as Equals, Revd Dr Kevin Kelly and Dr Tina Beattie, Roehampton University

2006 Norwich: ‘Sexuality in Other Faiths: Jewish and Islamic Perspectives’, Adnan Ali and Rabbi Mark L Solomon

2007 Sheffield: ‘God and Desire’, James Alison, Sister Kate Stogden, London Centre for Spirituality, Professor Elizabeth Stuart, University of Winchester

2008 Roehampton ‘What it means to say “I am a Catholic”’, TinaBeattie, Professor in Catholic Studies, Roehampton University; Fr Michael Seed, SA, Peter Stanford, Writer

2009 Leicester: ‘We Are Family: New Thinking for the 21st Century’, Kate Predergast, Lecturer Social Policies, Brunel University; Terry Predergast, Chief Executive, Marriage Care; Stephen Wall, former UK Ambassador to the EU

2010 Lancaster: ‘Made in God’s Image: the Normality of Difference’, Brian Thorne, Emeritus Professor of Counselling, University of East Anglia; the Revd Barbara Glasson, ‘Touchstone, Bradford; Professor Gerard Loughlin, University of Durham


2011 London Colney: ‘Prophetic Community’, Revd Canon Margaret Morris, formerly Bishop of Leicester’s Chaplain with People Affected by HIV, Revd John Drane, Professor of Practical Theology, Fuller Seminary, California

2012 Ditchingham” ‘Sixty Glorious Years’, Dr Bart Smith, former Librarian at the British Library and Terence Weldon, former market researcher, teacher, librarian and now blogger (Queering the Church)

2013 Chichester: “From Wasteland to Promised Land’, Sara Maitland, novelist, short story writer, solitary and feminist; Fr Daniel O’Leary, priest, author and teacher.

2014 Scarborough ‘So Hope for a Great Sea-Change’, Pádraig Ó Tuama poet, theologian, Corrymeela Community Leader; Fr Peter McVerry SJ priest, author, campaigner for the homeless.

2015 Swanwick: ‘The Bible: Friend or Foe?’, Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall; Keith Sharpe, author, retired professor of education.

2016 Scarborough: ‘Feathers on the Breath of God’. Christina Beardsley, Church of England priest, co-founder of the Sibyls Gender, Sexuality and Spirituality workshop, head of the multi-faith chaplaincy at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital; The Revd Dr Chris Dowd, United Reformed Minister.

2017 Canterbury: ‘Act Justly and Love Mercy’, Sister Jeannine Gramick SL, Co-founder of New Ways Ministry; Bruce Kent, of Pax Christi, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and other peace groups.

2018 Lincoln: ‘…a time to build’, Fr James Martin SJ, James Alison, Dr Claire Watkins and Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton

2019 Winchester: ‘Family Matters: Rainbow Parenting and the Catholic Church’, Dr Mary McAleese and Dr Sam Hall


2020 Manchester: Deferred until 2021 due to the COVD-19 pandemic

2021 Manchester: ‘Born This Way: Gender and Sexuality Reimagined’, Dr Gerard Loughlin, Dr Luca Badini and Dr Anne-Marie Martindale