| Royal Army Chaplains' Department | |
|---|---|
 Cap Badge of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department; for Jewish padres the Maltese Cross is replaced by a Star of David | |
| Active | 23 September 1796 - present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Role | Chaplaincy |
| Motto(s) | "In this Sign Conquer" |
| March | Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary) |
| Commanders | |
| Chaplain General | The Revd David Coulter |
The Royal Army Chaplains' Department (RAChD) is an all-officer corps that provides ordained clergy to minister to the British Army.
History[]
A post 1953 RAChD No.1 dress cap
| British Army arms and services |
|---|
|
| Combat Arms |
| Royal Armoured Corps |
| Infantry |
| Special Air Service |
| Army Air Corps |
| Special Reconnaissance Regiment |
| Combat Support Arms |
| Royal Artillery |
| Royal Engineers |
| Royal Corps of Signals |
| Intelligence Corps |
| Combat Services |
| Royal Army Chaplains' Department |
| Royal Logistic Corps |
| Army Medical Services |
| Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
| Adjutant General's Corps |
| Small Arms School Corps |
| Royal Army Physical Training Corps |
| General Service Corps |
| Corps of Army Music |
The Army Chaplains' Department (AChD) was formed by Royal Warrant of 23 September 1796.[1] Previously chaplains had been part of individual regiments, but not on the central establishment. Only Anglican chaplains were recruited until 1827, when Presbyterians were recognised. Roman Catholic chaplains were recruited from 1836, Methodist chaplains from 1881, and Jewish chaplains from 1892.[2] During the First World War some 4,400 Army Chaplains were recruited and 179 lost their lives on active service.[2] The Department received the "Royal" prefix in February 1919.[2] During the Second World War another 96 British and 38 Commonwealth Army Chaplains lost their lives.[2]
From 1946 until 1996, the RAChD's Headquarters, Depot and Training Centre were at Bagshot Park in Surrey, now the home of The Earl and Countess of Wessex.[3] In 1996, they moved to the joint service Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Amport House near Andover.[4]
Role[]
There are about 150 serving regular chaplains (commonly known as "padres") in the British Army; these can belong to one of several Christian denominations, or to the Jewish faith, although currently all active chaplains are Christian.[5] Uniquely within the British Army, the Royal Army Chaplains' Department has different cap badges for its Christian and Jewish officers.[6]
Army chaplains, although they are all commissioned officers of the British Army and wear uniform, do not have executive authority. They are unique within the British Army in that they do not carry arms. At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes (many chaplains have been decorated for bravery in action, including three Victoria Crosses: James Adams, Noel Mellish and William Addison).[7]
The RAChD's motto is "In this Sign Conquer" as seen in the sky before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge by the Roman Emperor Constantine. Its regimental march, both quick and slow, is the Prince of Denmark's March, erroneously known as the Trumpet Voluntary.[8]
Museum[]
The Museum of Army Chaplaincy is located at Amport House near Andover, Hampshire.[9]
Representative denominations in the RAChD[]
Chaplains are either classified as Jewish (currently only in the Territorial Army) or as a member of one of the following eight Christian denominational groups:
- Anglican (Church of England, Church of Ireland, Church in Wales and Scottish Episcopal Church)
- Presbyterian (Church of Scotland and Presbyterian Church in Ireland)
- Roman Catholic Church
- Methodist Church
- United Board, incorporating the Baptist Church, United Reformed Church and Congregational Church
- Elim Pentecostal Church
- Assemblies of God
- Salvation Army
However, an Army chaplain is expected to minister to and provide pastoral care to any soldier who needs it, no matter their denomination or faith or lack of it.[10] In 2011 following a freedom of information request on Ministry of Defence spending on chaplaincy, the National Secular Society requested that £22m of spending should come directly from churches while professional counselling should continue to be funded by the tax payer,[11] in order to better serve the non-religious in the military.[12] The proposal was rejected by the Church of England.[11] As of 2018 there are no non-religious chaplains in the British armed forces although organisations such as the UK Armed Forces Humanist Association and the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (NRPSN) continue to advocate for it.[13]
Ranks[]
The insignia of a Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class.
Chaplains are the only British Army officers who do not carry standard officer ranks. They are officially designated Chaplain to the Forces (CF) (e.g. "The Reverend John Smith CF"). They do, however, have grades which equate to the standard ranks and wear the insignia of the equivalent rank. Chaplains are usually addressed as "Padre" /ˈpɑːdreɪ/, never by their nominal military rank.
- Chaplain-General (CG) = Major-General
- Deputy Chaplain-General (DCG) = Brigadier
- Chaplain to the Forces 1st Class (CF1) = Colonel
- Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class (CF2) = Lieutenant-Colonel
- Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class (CF3) = Major
- Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (CF4) = Captain
The senior Church of England Chaplain is ranked within the church hierarchy as an Archdeacon – he or she holds the appointment of Archdeacon for the Army whether or not he or she is also the Chaplain-General. The Senior Roman Catholic Chaplain (usually a CF1) is sometimes ranked as a monsignor.[14]
List of Chaplains General[]
- 4 October 1796 – 1810 (res.): John Gamble[15] (first CG)
- 10 March 1810 – 1824 (d.): John Owen[16]
- 12 July 1824 – 1844 (d.): Robert Hodgson[17]
- 2 July 1846 – 1875 (ret.): George Gleig[18]
- 7 April 1875 – 1884 (d.): Piers Claughton[19]
- 8 February 1885 – 1 November 1901 (ret.): Cox Edghill[20]
- 1 November 1901 – 1925: John Taylor Smith[21]
- 1925–1931 (res.): Alfred Jarvis[22]
- 1931–1939: Ernest Thorold[23]
- 1939–1944 (ret.): Charles Symons[24]
- 6 November 1944 – 1951 (res.): Llewelyn Hughes[24]
- 6 November 1951 – 1960 (res.): Victor Pike[25]
- 11 June 1960 – 1966: Ivan Neill[26]
- 8 February 1966 – 1974 (ret.): John Youens[27]
- 1 July 1974 – 1980: Peter Mallett[28]
- 1980–31 December 1986: Frank Johnston[29]
- 1 January 1987 – 1995: James Harkness (Scottish Presbyterian, first non-Anglican Chaplain-General)[29]
- 3 February 1995 – 2000: Victor Dobbin (Irish Presbyterian minister)[30]
- 13 May 2000 – 2004: John Blackburn[31]
- 2004–2008: David Wilkes (Methodist)
- 2008–2011: Stephen Robbins
- 29 July 2011 – 2014: Jonathan Woodhouse (Baptist)[32]
- September 2014 – present David Coulter (Church of Scotland)
Deputy Chaplain General[]
- 1941 to 1945 : Alfred Thomas Arthur Naylor[33]
- 1985 to 1986: James Harkness
- 1986 to 1989: Tom Robinson
- 1989 to 1993: Graham Roblin
- 1993 to 1995: Alan Dean
- 1996 to 1999: John Holliman
- 1999 to 2000: John Blackburn
- 2000 to 2004: David Wilkes
- 2008 to 2011: Jonathan Woodhouse
- 2011 to 2014: David Coulter
- 2014 to 2017: Peter Eagles
- 2017 to present: Clinton Langston
Order of precedence[]
Some notable Army chaplains[]
|
|
See also[]
- Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch
- Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service
- Bishop to the Forces (Anglican)
- Bishopric of the Forces (Roman Catholic)
- Military chaplain#United Kingdom
- International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference
- Religion in the United Kingdom
- Toc H
- Military archdeacons
- Category:Royal Army Chaplains' Department officers
Footnotes[]
- ↑ Museum of Army Chaplaincy webpage. British Army official website.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "History of Army Chaplains". Ministry of Defence. http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/23350.aspx. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Bagshot Park". http://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/bpark/index.shtml. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Army Forces Chaplaincy Centre". Defence Academy. http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/afcc. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Army chaplains". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/priests/armychaplains_1.shtml. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Military Cap Badge Royal Army Chaplains Department (Jewish)". Intriguing history. http://www.intriguing-history.com/military-cap-badge-royal-army-chaplains-department-jewish/. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Padre VC Holders". http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/padre_vc.htm. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Marches of the British Forces". http://www.worldmilitarybands.com/marches-of-the-british-forces-edit/. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Museum of Army Chaplaincy". Ministry of Defence. http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/23363.aspx. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Royal Army Chaplains' Department". Ministry of Defence. http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/chaplains.aspx. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 McManus, John. "Military chaplain funding queried by secular group". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15318614. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ↑ Bingham, John. "Military losing faith in God". https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10902040/Military-losing-faith-in-God.html. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ↑ "MoD open to Humanist chaplains". https://www.scotsman.com/news/mod-open-to-humanist-chaplains-1-1368408. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ↑ "The gave their today". http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/army-chaplains-ww1.html. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=13938 |date=4 October 1796 |startpage=945|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=16348 |date=6 March 1810 |startpage=335|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=18044 |date=13 July 1824 |startpage=1155|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=20620 |date=7 July 1846 |startpage=2500|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=24199 |date=13 April 1875 |startpage=2081|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=25442 |date=17 February 1885 |startpage=677|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=27379 |date=22 November 1901 |startpage=7653|}
- ↑ {{London Gazette |issue=33048 |date=19 May 1925 |startpage=3374|}
- ↑ "No. 34010". 29 December 1933. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34010/supplement/
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "No. 36791". 10 November 1944. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36791/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 39375". 9 November 1951. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39375/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 42088". 8 July 1960. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42088/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 43898". 11 February 1966. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43898/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 46349". 24 September 1974. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46349/supplement/
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 "No. 50799". 12 January 1987. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50799/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 53946". 6 February 1995. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53946/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 55854". 23 May 2000. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/55854/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 59866". 2 August 2011. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59866/supplement/
- ↑ "A Second World War D.S.O., and Great War O.B.E. group of seven to Reverend A.T.A. Naylor, Army Chaplain's Department". 12 March 2014. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21704/lot/133/. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
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
- Kennedy, Geoffrey Anketell Studdert The Unutterable Beauty, ISBN 1-84685-110-6
- Loudon, Stephen H. Chaplains in Conflict. The Role of Army Chaplains since 1914. Avon Books, London: 1996. ISBN 1-86033-840-2
- MacDonald, David R. Padre E. C. Crosse and 'the Devonshire Epitaph': The Astonishing Story of One Man at the Battle of the Somme (with Antecedents to Today's 'Just War' Dialogue), ISBN 978-1-929569-45-8
- McLaren, Stuart John (ed.) Somewhere in Flanders. A Norfolk Padre in the Great War. The War Letters of the Revd Samuel Frederick Leighton Green MC, Army Chaplain 1916–1919. The Larks Press, Norfolk, UK (www.booksatlarkspress.co.uk): 2005. ISBN 1-904006-25-6
- Montell, Hugh (2002) A Chaplain's War. The Story of Noel Mellish VC, MC. ISBN 1-84394-008-6
- O'Rahilly, Alfred The Padre of Trench Street (about Jesuit Father William Doyle), ISBN 1-905363-15-X
- Purcell, William Woodbine Willie. An Anglican Incident. Being some account of the life and times of Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, poet, prophet, seeker after truth, 1883–1929. London: 1962
- Smyth, Brigadier The Rt Hon. Sir John, Bt, VC, MC In This Sign Conquer. The Story of the Army Chaplains. London: 1968
- Snape, Michael The Royal Army Chaplains' Department, 1796–1953. Clergy under Fire. Boydell Press, 2007. ISBN 1-84383-346-8
- Teonge, Henry The Diary of Henry Teonge Chaplain on Board HM’s Ships Assistance, Bristol and Royal Oak 1675–1679. Edited by Sir E. Denison Ross and Eileen Power. London: Routledge, [1927] 2005.
- Thornton, Sybil "Buddhist Chaplains in the Field of Battle" in Buddhism in Practice, ed. Donald S. Lopez, Jr. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995)
- Wilkinson, Alan The Church of England and the First World War. SPCK, London: 1978, reprinted by SCM, London: 1996. ISBN 0-334-02669-5
- Padres at War: Army chaplains bring comfort to the front line. Royal Army Chaplains' Department webpage. British Army official website.
" 'Evans Above".....The Auto Biography of THE REV WALTER EVANS.CF. I do not have the "LIBRARY" detail....He served PADRE to 22 Regt S A S. EVANS...The Rev WALTER C.F. His Auto Biography...."'Evens Above". He was too.....CHAPLAIN....THE ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA.
External links[]
- Royal Army Chaplains' Department official webpage. British Army official website.
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The original article can be found at Royal Army Chaplains' Department and the edit history here.