‘Inclusive Communities: All are Beloved’ |

We are delighted to announce that we are taking bookings for this year’s Annual Conference.

Scroll on to read the full details or jump ahead to:

The Background to the conference
What the conference will explore
The Guest Speakers/Contributors
The Venue
Costs and Booking Information

Conference Dates: Fri 18th to Sun 20th July, 2025

At Highgate House Conference Centre, Grooms Ln, Creaton, Northampton, NN6 8NN

The background to the conference

In recent years, our conferences have reflected the global Synod process convened by Pope Francis to discern how the Holy Spirit might be calling us to be as ‘church’. The phrase ‘Walking Together’ has been used to describe the process, and Pope Francis frequently speaks about drawing attention to those on the ‘margins’.

In Quest, we can identify as both the marginalised and those ministering at the margins. The Synod reminds us that we need to constantly look at how we can ‘be with’ fellow Christians as we ‘walk together’, and that there may be those to whom we have a responsibility to reach out. This sense of a community of faith on a journey continues in the theme the Vatican has given to the church’s celebrations for jubilee year 2025: ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

The synodal journey naturally leads into exploring our place and our role on the ‘margins’: reflecting on who we are; who are we ministering to: how can we be better ministers; and how we might be unintentionally marginalising further, (thus colluding with existing marginalisation).

In recent years our membership has grown, and our demographic profile diversified. Issues of privilege and intersectionality (the impact of interconnections of race, gender, sexuality, faith, etc) are part of the conversation that we need to continue and deepen as Quest moves forward: who is it we need to be more attentive to as we ‘walk together’, and to whose voices aren’t we listening.

How can we evolve as a community?

The conference will explore:

Intersectionality as a lens of bridge building

By encouraging dialogue between different communities within society to break down walls of division.

By gaining deeper insight into other people’s stories in order to foster empathy and understanding

Building Inclusive Communities

By considering practical steps as to how churches and/or individuals can create spaces where everyone feels loved and accepted.

By shining light on how we can use our differences in various social identities to our advantage instead of disadvantage.

Allyship & Advocacy

By emphasising the Christian call to stand with those on the margins, advocating for justice and inclusion.

By encouraging people to listen and help amplify the voices of others who experience marginalisation.

Power of Community & Belonging

By creating safe spaces of mutual respect and understanding where LGBT+ Christians can share the diversity of their stories and grow together, paying heed to intergenerational solidarity.

Guest Speakers / Contributors:

Reverend Jide Macaulay is the visionary behind House Of Rainbow CIC, where he serves as Founder & CEO. He is a prominent figure, openly embracing his identity as a gay British-Nigerian, born in London. With a profound commitment to Christianity, he has been a minister since 1998, serving as an Anglican Priest, pastor, and preacher. Beyond his spiritual pursuits, he is a multifaceted individual, showcasing his talents as an inspirational speaker, author, poet, and HIV Positive Activist.

Reverend Macaulay’s educational accomplishments are impressive, with a degree in Law, a Master’s Degree in Theology, and a post-graduate certificate in Pastoral Theology. His dedication to the cause extends to various organisations, where he actively contributes his expertise and leadership. Notably, he serves as Patron for ReportOUT & One Body One Faith, Co-Chair for One Voice Network, and Chair for INERELA Europe, contributes as Expert Advisor at UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights. varied concerns.

Jimmy Adekoya is a passionate and dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion within faith communities. With over five years of pastoral experience, he has been at the forefront of creating safe and affirming spaces where people of all identities can fully embrace both their spirituality and authenticity.

Jimmy holds a BSc in Microbiology and an MSc in Medical Microbiology, bringing a unique analytical and scientific perspective to his work in faith-based advocacy. His background in the sciences has sharpened his ability to engage in critical thinking and compassionate discourse, allowing him to navigate the complex intersection of faith, identity, and inclusion with clarity and conviction.

Having lived through and emerged from non-affirming Christian environments, Jimmy intimately understands the struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals grappling with faith and self-acceptance. His personal journey of overcoming the gospel of condemnation fuels his mission to help others reclaim their spiritual narratives, free from shame and fear.

As a team leader at House of Rainbow, Jimmy actively works to bridge the gap between faith and identity through dynamic teaching, heartfelt preaching, and dedicated pastoral and community outreach. A seasoned teacher of the Word and a firm believer in the transformative power of love, he challenges the notion that inclusion is optional. To Jimmy, true inclusion is a divine imperative, because, as he often says, “the world will adjust.”

Paschal Bagonza will join us as after dinner speaker. Paschal recently completed his doctoral studies at De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester. His research looked at – from a new materialist perspective – sexual and gender minority asylum seekers and refugees experience of the UK’s asylum process. He believes in involving participants in producing research through, for instance, visual methods like photovoice. He currently works at DMU in teaching and admin roles.

Paschal has volunteered with a number of charities in the UK, most recently as a Counsellor at a charity which provides free confidential services to male survivors of sexual abuse and their supporters in Leicester/shire and Rutland.

Paschal draws on his professional background of Media, Counselling and Social Work to enrich his inclusive and anti-oppressive work. Paschal is on a complex journey in terms of belief and faith.

Chaplain (to be confirmed)

The Venue

Quest returns to a Christian Conference Centre property. This year Highgate House near Northampton.

There is a bar on site, and limitless coffee with freshly ground coffee machines situated around the conference centre.

The venue, like Quest, runs on a not-for-profit basis and therefore has less flexibility but room rates are cheaper. We have a set number of rooms held for us and will have to renegotiate numbers as we go along if demand is greater than the number we have reserved. Rooms will therefore be allocated on a first come, first served basis (the website registration form will timestamp your booking to ensure fairness). Book early and we may be able to extend the numbers if needs be, this is less likely the closer we get to the event.

Room shares are possible but there is no discount for this as the venue runs a fair rate policy for all.

Other things you need to know:

There are beautiful grounds and the Highgate House website has information about the surrounding area.
The nearest train stations are Market Harborough and Northampton. We don’t have taxi information at the moment.
Plenty of free parking.
It is not possible to book extra nights before or after the conference.
Accessibility – we have reserved two fully accessible rooms and all rooms not on the ground floor are accessible by lift.
We are unable to book a ‘gala dinner’ this year because of numbers so Saturday supper will be alongside other centre guests (in our designated area).

Costs and Booking Information

This conference has received support from the LGBT+ Futures: Faith Fund.

The LGBT+ Futures: Faith Fund supports UK-based non-profit groups, organisations and projects that are led by and for LGBT+ people of faith. The fund is possible thanks to the generosity of an individual Donor.

More information about the packages and the costs for members booking at the early bird rate are available on the booking form. These rates range from £93 non-residential day rate for Saturday only (including lunch), to £279 for the full residential weekend. This year we also have double room sharing options though the venue has a non-discriminatory policy for sole occupancy so the cost is the same: £279 per person.

To find out more then you need to start completing the form (you aren’t committing until you confirm at the end of the process):

You MUST click the relevant option under Quest Membership
The Accommodation Options and Package Prices relevant to membership status will then appear. Click the drop down box to see the options.

Members benefits (Early Bird rate): The members’ rate is discounted until the 31st March 2025. To join Quest, visit the relevant section of our website here.

Click to jump straight to the Booking Form. If you need a paper copy of the form email the conferences team conferences@questlgbti.uk telling us whether or not you are a Quest member.

You can find out about previous and future conferences here.

Though the finer detail of the timetable isn’t yet finalised the main event sessions will likely be on Saturday morning and after lunch followed by afternoon activities or free time, catch up with old friends or make some new. Further sessions on Sunday morning and immediately after lunch.

Bookings are not limited to Quest members or Catholics. Our inclusive liturgy is inspired by the morning and evening prayers of the Catholic faith and we will conclude the weekend with a Catholic Mass followed by tea and coffee before we depart around 4pm.

If you have questions then please email conferences@questlgbti.uk.

To book a place visit the Booking Form.