Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service

The Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service provides chaplains to the Royal Navy. The chaplains are commissioned by the Sovereign but do not hold military rank other than that of "Chaplain Royal Navy".

The senior chaplain in the Royal Navy is the Chaplain of the Fleet, the current post holder being Andrew Hillier, an Anglican priest, who is also the Archdeacon for the Royal Navy.

Chaplains do not hold a standard military rank, and are usually addressed as Padre, Reverend, or, more informally, Bish.

The majority of chaplains are recruited from a number of Christian denominations. However, to better reflect the changing demographics of the United Kingdom and its military, the Ministry of Defence announced in November 2023 that it would begin recruiting non-religious pastoral support officers from 2024, as is already done in prisons, universities and the NHS.

Training Chaplains join the Royal Navy as experienced clergy of their denomination. They undergo naval training at Britannia Royal Naval College alongside other Royal Navy officer cadets. Those serving with the Royal Marines may be selected to attempt commando training: if successful they become Royal Navy Commandos and wear the Commando green beret and, on No 1 uniform, the Commando Dagger badge. Those who serve with the Submarine Service may earn their submarine service "Dolphins".

Chaplains of the Fleet

The role of Chaplain of 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. An Order in Council issued by King Edward VII in August 1902 granted the ecclesiastical dignity of archdeacon on the Chaplain of the Fleet. Thomas Ken was appointed Chaplain of the Fleet by King Charles II in 1683.

1859–1865: Unknown 1865–1871: William Guise-Tucker 1871–1876: Unknown 23 November 18761882 (retd): John CawstonThe Times, 7 March 1900, page 6 1882–1888: John Harbord 188817 January 1899 (retd): John Cox-Edwards 18991 March 1901 (retd): John Berry 19016 October 1906 (retd): Stuart Harris 19061 December 1917 (retd): Hugh Wood 1917–1924: Charles Ingles 192429 January 1929 (retd): Robert McKew 1929–1933: Walter Knight-Adkin 1933–1935: Charles Peshall 19354 October 1938 (retd): Arthur Gilbertson 1938–1943: Thomas Crick 1943–1947: John Wilson 194715 May 1952: Leonard Coulshaw 1952–1956: Noel Chamberlain 1956–1960: Darrell Bunt 196015 March 1963 (retd): John Armstrong 15 May 196318 March 1966 (retd): Raymond Richardson 18 March 19666 May 1969: Christopher Prior 8 April 19699 June 1972 (retd): Ambrose Weekes 14 April 19721975: Chandos Morgan 4 December 19751980: Basil O'Ferrall 28 March 19801984: Raymond Roberts 11 June 19841989: Noël Jones 1989–1994: Michael Henley 1994–1997: Michael Bucks 1997–1999: Simon Golding‘GOLDING, Ven. Simon Jefferies’, Who's Who 2012, A & C Black, 2012; online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2011 accessed 25 November 2012 1999–2000: Charles Stewart 2000–2002: Simon Golding 2002–2006: Barry Hammett 2006–2010: John Green 2010–2014: Scott J. BrownRoyal Navy – Chaplain of the Fleet (Retrieved 7 June 2012) 2014–2018: Ian Wheatley 2018–2021: Martyn Gough 2021–2025: Andrew Hillier 2025 - Present: Mark Davidson

See also Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch Royal Army Chaplains' Department

References

Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service

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