Royal Navy Chaplaincy Services

Her Majesty's Naval Service of the British Armed Forces
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Personnel
The Admiralty Senior officers Uniforms Officer / ratings rank insignia
Auxiliary services
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Marine Services

Personnel

Royal Navy chaplains are commissioned by the Sovereign but do not hold military rank other than that of "Chaplain Royal Navy". They are usually addressed as Padre, Reverend or more informally Bish. Chaplains are recruited from a number of Christian denominations.

The senior Chaplain in the Royal Navy is the Chaplain of the Fleet, currently The Revd Scott J Brown QHC. Mr Brown is a Church of Scotland minister. The Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet is currently The Venerable Ian Wheatley QHC RN. Mr Wheatley, an Anglican Priest, is also the Archdeacon for the Royal Navy.

Training

Chaplains undergo training at Britannia Royal Naval College alongside other Royal Navy officer cadets. After completing the course they may opt to earn their "Dolphins" and serve in the Submarine Service or the green beret (upon completion of the All Arms Commando Course) and serve with the Royal Marines.

Chaplains of the Fleet

See also: Category:Chaplains of the Fleet

The role of Chaplain to the Fleet, being Head of the Naval Chaplains, was established on 13 May 1859, and was originally attached to the role of Senior Chaplain at Greenwich Hospital and was also the Inspector of Naval Schools. When an Anglican priest serves as the Chaplain of the Fleet (as was always the case until 1998), the chaplain is also the Archdeacon for the Royal Navy; otherwise, the archidiaconal title belongs to the slightly junior Principal Anglican Chaplain.

Service on the battleship HMS Cumberland, November 1942

• 1859–1865: Unknown
• 1865–1871: William Guise-Tucker
• 1871–1875: Unknown
• 23 November 1876–?: John Cawston
• bef. 1888–?: John Harbord
• 1888–17 January 1899 (retd): John Cox-Edwards
• 1899–1 March 1901 (retd): John Berry
• 1901–6 October 1906 (retd): Stuart Harris
• 1906–1 December 1917 (retd): Hugh Wood
• 1917–1924: Charles Ingles
• 1924–29 January 1929 (retd): Robert McKew
• 1929–1933: Walter Knight-Adkin
• 1933–1935: Charles Peshall
• 1935–4 October 1938 (retd): Arthur Gilbertson
• 1938–1943: Thomas Crick
• 1943–1947: John Wilson
• 1947–15 May 1952: Leonard Coulshaw
• 1952–1956: Noel Chamberlain
• 1956–1960: Darrell Bunt
• 1960–5 March 1963 (retd): John Armstrong
• 15 May 1963 – 18 March 1966 (retd): Raymond Richardson
• 18 March 1966 – 6 May 1969: Christopher Prior
• 8 April 1969 – 9 June 1972 (retd): Ambrose Weekes
• 14 April 1972 – 1975: Chandos Morgan
• 4 December 1975 – 1980: Basil O'Ferrall
• 28 March 1980 – 1984: Raymond Roberts
• 11 June 84–1989: Noël Jones
• 1989–1993: Michael Henley
• 1993–1997: Michael Bucks
• 1997–1998: Simon Golding
• 1998–2000: Charles Stewart (Church of Scotland)
  • Archdeacons for the Royal Navy
    • 1998–2000: Simon Golding (Principal Anglican Chaplain)
• 2000–2002: Simon Golding
• 2002–2006: Barry Hammett
• 2006–2010: John Green
• 1 November 2010: Scott J Brown (Church of Scotland)
  • Archdeacons for the Royal Navy
    • 2010–2012: Martin Poll (Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet & Principal Anglican Chaplain)
    • 2012–present: Ian Wheatley (Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet & Principal Anglican Chaplain)

Further reading

• Bergen, Doris. L., (ed), 2004. The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century. University of Notre Dame Press ISBN 0-268-02176-7

External links

• RN Chaplaincy Services - Royal Navy official website