View source for Royal Army Chaplains' Department

{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Royal Army Chaplains' Department
| image                         = RAChD QC.gif
| image_size                    = 
| caption                       = Cap Badge of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department; for Jewish padres the Maltese Cross is replaced by a Star of David
| dates                         = 23 September 1796 – present
| country                       = {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = [[Image:flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
| type                          = 
| role                          = Chaplaincy
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = [[Marlborough Lines]], [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]]
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = "In this Sign Conquer"
| colors                        = 
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = ''[[Prince of Denmark's March]]'' (Trumpet Voluntary)
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| ceremonial_chief              = [[Queen Camilla]]
| ceremonial_chief_label        = Patron
| commander1                    = [[Michael Parker (minister)|Michael Parker]]
| commander1_label              = [[Chaplain General]]
| commander2                    = 
| commander2_label              = 
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Royal Army Chaplains' Department Tactical Recognition Flash.png|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[Tactical recognition flash]]
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
}}
The '''Royal Army Chaplains' Department''' ('''RAChD''') is an all-officer department that provides [[ordained]] [[clergy]] and non-religious chaplains to the [[British Army]].

==History==
[[File:Royalarmychaplainsdepartmentcap.JPG|thumb|left|upright|A post 1953 RAChD No.1 dress cap]]
{{British Army Arms}}
The Army Chaplains' Department (AChD) was formed by [[Royal warrant (document)|Royal Warrant]] of 23 September 1796;{{sfn|Snape|2008|p=26}} until then chaplains had been part of individual [[regiment]]s, but not on the central establishment. Only [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] chaplains were recruited until 1827, when [[Presbyterian]]s were recognised, but not commissioned until 1858.{{sfn|Snape|2008|p=146}} [[Roman Catholic]] chaplains were recruited from 1836, [[Methodist]] chaplains from 1881, and [[Judaism|Jewish]] chaplains from 1892.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/23350.aspx|title=History of Army Chaplains|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref> During the First World War some 4,400 Army Chaplains were recruited and 179 lost their lives on active service.<ref name=history/> The department received the "Royal" prefix in February 1919.<ref name=history/> During the Second World War another 96 British and 38 Commonwealth Army Chaplains lost their lives.<ref name=history/>

From 1946 to 1996, the RAChD's Headquarters, Depot and Training Centre were at [[Bagshot Park]] in Surrey, now the home of [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|The Duke]] and [[Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh|Duchess of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/bpark/index.shtml|title=Bagshot Park|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref> In 1996, they moved to the joint service '''Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre''' at [[Amport House]] near [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]], Hampshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/afcc|title=Army Forces Chaplaincy Centre|publisher=Defence Academy|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref> Since 2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Robert |date=17 October 2023 |title=Historic Amport House near Andover to be converted into 48-room boutique hotel |url=https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/historic-amport-house-near-andover-8836256}}</ref> the joint centre has been based at [[Beckett House]], part of the [[Defence Academy of the United Kingdom|Defence Academy]] of the United Kingdom, just outside [[Shrivenham]], Oxfordshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/files/media/cfp_religion_and_the_ending_of_war.pdf|title=Beckett House Conference (Religion and Defence)|date=9 July 2021|publisher= Defence Academy of the United Kingdom|access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref> In November 2023, the Ministry of Defence announced the intent to recruit Non-Religious Pastoral Support Officers into chaplaincy in order to reflect the changing demographics of the United Kingdom and HM Forces.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://humanists.uk/2023/11/30/armed-forces-to-recruit-first-non-religious-pastoral-officers/|title=Armed forces to recruit first non-religious pastoral officers}}</ref>

== Selection and training ==
Candidates, both regular and reserve, first make a familiarisation visit to meet serving chaplains at an Army camp. They proceed to the [[Army Officer Selection Board]] at Leighton House, [[Westbury, Wiltshire|Westbury]], for physical and mental assessment. Successful candidates receive initial training at the [[Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre]], Beckett House, [[Shrivenham]] and the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Royal Army Chaplains' Department |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-army-chaplains-department/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.army.mod.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Candidates for chaplain to the [[Army Cadet Force]] are interviewed by the Regional Senior Chaplain, then attend a regional Army Cadets Commissions Board. Successful candidates undergo familiarisation, followed by initial training at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre.<ref name=":0" />

==Role==
Serving regular chaplains in the British Army can be Catholic, one of several [[Christianity|Protestant]] denominations, the [[Judaism|Jewish]] faith, Muslim, non-religious, Hindu or Sikh. Uniquely within the Army, the Royal Army Chaplains' Department has different cap badges for its Christian and Jewish officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intriguing-history.com/military-cap-badge-royal-army-chaplains-department-jewish/|title=Military Cap Badge Royal Army Chaplains Department (Jewish)|date=12 January 2012|publisher=Intriguing history|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref>

Army chaplains, although they are all [[commissioned officer]]s of the British Army and wear uniform, do not have executive authority. They are unique within the Army in that they do not carry arms. Many chaplains have been decorated for bravery in action, including four awarded [[Victoria Cross]]es: [[James Adams (chaplain)|James Adams]], [[Noel Mellish]], [[Theodore Hardy]] and [[William Addison (VC)|William Addison]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/padre_vc.htm|title=Padre VC Holders|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref> At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/626107/2017-03109.pdf|page=577|title=Army Dress Regulations (All ranks)|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref>

The RAChD's [[motto]] is "[[In hoc signo vinces|In this Sign Conquer]]" as seen in the sky before the [[Battle of the Milvian Bridge]] by the Roman  Emperor Constantine. Its [[march (music)|regimental march]], both quick and slow, is the ''[[Prince of Denmark's March]]'', erroneously known as the ''Trumpet Voluntary''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldmilitarybands.com/marches-of-the-british-forces-edit/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612043909/http://worldmilitarybands.com/marches-of-the-british-forces-edit/|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2009|title=Marches of the British Forces|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref>

==Museum==
The [[Royal Army Chaplains' Museum]] is at Shrivenham, in a new building opened by the [[Sophie, Countess of Wessex|Countess of Wessex]] on 17 May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/the-countess-of-wessex-visits-oxfordshire/ |title=The Countess of Wessex visits Oxfordshire|date=20 May 2022|publisher=Oxford County Council|access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref> Its newly curated collection replaced the Museum of Army Chaplaincy which was at [[Amport House]] near Andover, Hampshire until 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Museum of Army Chaplaincy |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/23363.aspx |access-date=5 May 2014 |publisher=Ministry of Defence}}</ref>

==Faith denominations and belief backgrounds==
Chaplains are either classified as Jewish, a member of one of the following denominational Christian groups, a member of World Faiths or a Non-religious Pastoral Provider:<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Army Chaplains' Department |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-army-chaplains-department/ |access-date=30 November 2022 |publisher=Ministry of Defence}}</ref>
*[[Anglicanism|Anglican]] ([[Church of England]], [[Church of Ireland]], [[Church in Wales]] and [[Scottish Episcopal Church]])
*[[Assemblies of God]]
*[[Baptist Union of Great Britain]] 
*Buddhist
*[[Church of Scotland]] 
*[[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]]
*[[Community Church movement|Churches in Communities International]]
*[[Congregational Federation]]
*[[Elim Pentecostal Church]]
*Hindu
*[[Methodist Church]]
*Muslim
*Non-religious (e.g. [[Humanists UK|Humanists]], Agnostic or Atheist)
*[[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]]
*[[Roman Catholic Church]]
*[[United Reformed Church]]
*[[Salvation Army]]
*[[Sikh faith]]

There are also religious advisors from other faiths.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taneja |first1=Poonam |title=Army imam: Muslims can be good soldiers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25680656 |website=BBC News |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=13 January 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/chaplains.aspx|title=Royal Army Chaplains' Department|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref>

In 2004, Defence Minister [[Ivor Caplin]] said: “It is our aspiration to have armed forces which are representative of UK society as a whole.” The move might also help when dealing with soldiers in other armies from different faiths. At the time there were about 740 personnel that declared themselves to be from the four other main religions, but only Christian chaplains are employed by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. The number of non religious Ministry of Defence personnel including those in uniform numbered in the tens of thousands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.religion.info/2004/12/08/united-kingdom-non-christian-chaplains-to-be-appointed-by-armed-forces/|title=United Kingdom: non-Christian chaplains to be appointed by armed forces|publisher=Religioscope|access-date=28 November 2022}}</ref>

In 2011, following a [[freedom of information request]] on Ministry of Defence spending on chaplaincy, the [[National Secular Society]] proposed that £22m of spending should come directly from churches while professional counselling should continue to be funded by the taxpayer,<ref name="bbc2018" /> in order to better serve the non-religious in the military.<ref name="tele2018">{{cite web|last1=Bingham|first1=John|title=Military losing faith in God|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10902040/Military-losing-faith-in-God.html|website=Daily Telegraph|date=16 June 2014 |access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> The proposal was rejected by the [[Church of England]].<ref name="bbc2018">{{cite news|last1=McManus|first1=John|title=Military chaplain funding queried by secular group|work=BBC News|date=15 October 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15318614|access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref>

In September 2021, Defence [[Humanism|Humanists]], through a submission to the Government’s Integrated Review of foreign policy, defence, security and international development, called for an independent review of pastoral support for the armed forces which takes into account the nation’s changing religion and belief demographics and the need for a multi-faith and belief approach.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://humanists.uk/2020/09/14/defence-humanists-calls-for-non-religious-pastoral-care-in-the-armed-forces/|title=Defence Humanists calls for non-religious pastoral care in the armed forces|publisher=Humanists UK|access-date=28 November 2022}}</ref> In November 2023, the Ministry of Defence announced the intent to recruit Non-Religious Pastoral Support Officers into chaplaincy in order to reflect the changing demographics of the United Kingdom and HM Forces.<ref name="auto1"/> The [[armed forces of the Netherlands]] have had Humanist chaplains since 1964, known as [[Humanist Counseling in the Dutch Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Humanistisch geestelijke verzorging |url=http://humanistischverbond.nl/humanistische-geestelijke-begeleiding-defensie |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=Humanistisch Verbond |language=nl}}</ref>

==Ranks==
[[File:An Army Padre in Afghanistan with a Cross MOD 45152621.jpg|thumb|right|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 instead 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" {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɑː|d|r|eɪ}}, never by their nominal military rank.

*[[Chaplain-General]] (CG) = [[Major General|Major-General]]
*Deputy Chaplain-General (DCG) = [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]]
*Chaplain to the Forces 1st Class (CF1) = [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]]
*Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class (CF2) = [[Lieutenant Colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-Colonel]]
*Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class (CF3) = [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]]
*Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (CF4) = [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]]

The senior Church of England chaplain is ranked within the church hierarchy as an [[archdeacon]], and 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/army-chaplains-ww1.html|title=They gave their today|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref>

==List of Chaplains General==
{| class="wikitable"
! Term Began !! Term Ended !! Name !! Notes
|-
| 4 October 1796||1810 ||[[John Gamble (priest)|John Gamble]] || Resigned<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=13938 |date=4 October 1796 |page=945 }}</ref>
|-
| 10 March 1810||1824 ||[[John Owen (archdeacon of Richmond)|John Owen]] || Died in position<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=16348 |date=6 March 1810 |page=335 }}</ref>
|-
| 12 July 1824||1844 ||[[Robert Hodgson (dean of Carlisle)|Robert Hodgson]] || Died in position<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=18044 |date=13 July 1824 |page=1155 }}</ref>
|-
| 2 July 1846||1875 ||[[George Gleig (priest)|George Gleig]] || Retired<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=20620 |date=7 July 1846 |page=2500 }}</ref>
|-
| 7 April 1875||1884 ||[[Piers Claughton]] || Died in position<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=24199 |date=13 April 1875 |page=2081 }}</ref>
|-
| 8 February 1885||1 November 1901 ||[[Cox Edghill]] || Retired<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=25442 |date=17 February 1885 |page=677 }}</ref>
|-
| 1 November 1901||1925||[[John Taylor Smith]] || <ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27379 |date=22 November 1901 |page=7653 }}</ref>
|-
| 1925||1931 ||[[Alfred Jarvis]] || Resigned<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33048 |date=19 May 1925 |page=3374 }}</ref>
|-
| 1931||1939||[[Ernest Thorold]] || <ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34010 |date=29 December 1933 |page=3 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 1939||1944 ||[[Charles Symons]] || Retired<ref name="LG36791">{{London Gazette |issue=36791 |date=10 November 1944 |page=5189 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 6 November 1944||1951||[[Llewelyn Hughes]] || Resigned<ref name="LG36791" />
|-
| 6 November 1951||1960 ||[[Victor Pike]] || Resigned<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39375 |date=9 November 1951 |page=5772 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 11 June 1960||1966||[[Ivan Neill (priest)|Ivan Neill]] || <ref>{{London Gazette |issue=42088 |date=8 July 1960 |page=4811 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 8 February 1966||1974 ||[[John Youens]] || Retired<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=43898 |date=11 February 1966 |page=1755 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 1 July 1974||1980||[[Peter Mallett]] || <ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46349 |date=24 September 1974 |page=7900 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 1980||31 December 1986||[[Frank Johnston (priest)|Frank Johnston]] || <ref name="LG50799">{{London Gazette |issue=50799 |date=12 January 1987 |page=450 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 1 January 1987||1995||[[James Harkness (minister)|James Harkness]] || Scottish Presbyterian, first non-Anglican Chaplain-General<ref name="LG50799" />
|-
| 3 February 1995||2000||[[Victor Dobbin]] || Irish Presbyterian minister<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=53946 |date=6 February 1995 |page=1747 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 13 May 2000||2004||[[John Blackburn (priest)|John Blackburn]] || <ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55854 |date=23 May 2000 |page=5644 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| 2004||2008||[[David Wilkes]] || Methodist
|-
| 2008||2011||[[Stephen Robbins]] ||
|-
| 29 July 2011||2014||[[Jonathan Woodhouse (minister)|Jonathan Woodhouse]] || Baptist<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59866 |date=2 August 2011 |page=14713 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
| September 2014||2018 || [[David Coulter (minister)|David Coulter]] || Church of Scotland
|-
| December 2018|| 2022||[[Clinton Langston]] || 
|-
| May 2022 ||Present || [[Michael Parker (minister)|Michael Parker]] || Methodist <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/latest-news/all-news/methodist-chaplain-announced-as-next-chaplain-general-for-the-british-army/  |title=Methodist Chaplain announced as next Chaplain General for the British Army|publisher=Methodist Church|date=17 November 2021|access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref>
|}

===Deputy Chaplains General===
{{expand list|date=June 2017}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Term Began !! Term Ended !! Name !! Notes
|-
|  1915 || 1919||[[Llewellyn Gwynne]] ||<ref>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction= United Kingdom |title= THE DEPUTY CHAPLAIN-GENERAL |url= https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1915/sep/22/the-deputy-chaplain-general |house= House of Lords |date= 22 September 1915 |column_start= 836 |column_end= 839 |speaker= Lord Balfour of Burleigh }}</ref> 
|-
|  1941 || 1945 ||Alfred Thomas Arthur Naylor ||<ref>{{cite web|title=A Second World War D.S.O., and Great War O.B.E. group of seven : Reverend A.T.A. Naylor, Army Chaplain's Department |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21704/lot/133/|website=Bonhams.com |access-date=23 June 2017|date=12 March 2014}}</ref>
|-
|  1985 || 1986||[[James Harkness (minister)|James Harkness]] || Church of Scotland, later Chaplain General
|-
|  1986 || 1989||[[Tom Robinson (priest)|Tom Robinson]] ||
|-
|  1989 || 1993||[[Graham Roblin]] ||
|-
|  1993 || 1995||[[Alan Dean (priest)|Alan Dean]] ||
|-
|  1996 || 1999||[[John Holliman (priest)|John Holliman]] ||
|-
|  1999 || 2000||[[John Blackburn (priest)|John Blackburn]] || later Chaplain General
|-
|  2000 || 2004||[[David Wilkes]] || Methodist, later Chaplain General
|-
|  2008 || 2011||[[Jonathan Woodhouse (minister)|Jonathan Woodhouse]] || Baptist, later Chaplain General
|-
|  2011 || 2014||[[David Coulter (minister)|David Coulter]] || Church of Scotland, later Chaplain General
|-
|  2014 || 2017||[[Peter Eagles]] ||
|-
|  2017 || 2018||[[Clinton Langston]] || later Chaplain General 
|-
|  2018 || 2020||[[Michael Fava]] || Catholic<ref>{{cite web |title=Top appointment for Catholic army chaplain |url=https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/34980 |website=Independent Catholic News |access-date=10 January 2019 |language=en |date=28 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=63164 |date=3 November 2020 |page=18604 |supp= y}}</ref>
|-
|  2020 || 2022 || [[Michael Parker (minister)|Michael Parker]] || Methodist, later Chaplain General<ref>{{Cite tweet |author= Royal Army Chaplains' Department |user= ArmyChaplaincy |number= 1268428770320531457 |date= 4 June 2020 |title= We are pleased to announce that The Revd Michael Parker CF, currently serving with @3rdUKDivision, will be the next Deputy Chaplain General. Padre Parker will take up the post in October. #calledtoserve |access-date= 31 July 2021 |link= |ref=}}</ref> 
|-
|  2022 ||Present || David Barrett || Methodist
|}

==Order of precedence==
{{S-start}}
{{order of precedence |
  before= [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]]|
  title=  [[British Army Order of Precedence|Order of Precedence]]|
  after= [[Royal Logistic Corps]]
}}
{{S-end}}

==Notable British Army chaplains==
{{div col}}
* [[Michael Adler]]
* [[William Addison (VC)|William Addison]]
* [[Edward Armstrong Bennett]]
* [[Harry Blackburne]]
* [[A. C. Bouquet]]
* [[Tubby Clayton]] (Founder, [[Toc H]])
* [[Francis Lyon Cohen]]
* [[David Cooper (chaplain)|David Cooper]]
* [[Cox Edghill]]
* [[Willie Doyle]]
* [[Francis Gleeson (priest)|Francis Gleeson]]
* [[Samuel Leighton Green]]
* [[Alexander Macdonell (bishop of Kingston)|Alexander Macdonell]]
* [[Theodore Hardy]]
* [[James Harkness (minister)|James Harkness]]
* [[Hugh Hornby]]
* [[Rupert Inglis]], former England rugby international
* [[Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy]] ("Woodbine Willie")
* [[Noel Mellish]]
* [[George Smith (chaplain)|George Smith]] (Padre at [[Battle of Rorke's Drift|Rorke's Drift]])
* [[Neville Talbot]]
* [[Maurice Wood]]
* [[Edmond Kelly]]
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
IMCCC UK chaplains (David Coulter cropped).jpg|[[David Coulter (minister)|David Coulter]] in [[British Army mess dress|mess dress]]
Archbishop of Canterbury with military chaplains (Jonathan Woodhouse cropped 2).jpg|[[Jonathan Woodhouse (minister)|Jonathan Woodhouse]] in [[Uniforms of the British Army#No.2: Service dress (temperate parade uniform)|service dress]]
ABF carols (Clinton Langston cropped).jpg|[[Clinton Langston]] in [[choir dress]] with medals
New Army Chaplains (camo cropped).jpg|Padres in [[Uniforms of the British Army#No.8: Combat Dress|combat dress]]
Army chaplain conducts a service from the cockpit of an aeroplane, France, during World War I (3017163160).jpg|An army chaplain conducts a service from the cockpit of an aeroplane, France, during World War I
</gallery>

==See also==

{{Portal|United Kingdom}}
*[[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==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last=Snape | first=Michael | title=The Royal Army Chaplains' Department, 1796–1953: Clergy Under Fire | publisher=Boydell Press | series=Studies in modern British religious history | year=2008 | isbn=978-1-84383-346-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oEWYDTHXSbYC | access-date=14 June 2022}}

==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}}
* [[Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy|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. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20080113030325/http://www.cloverdalebooks.com/CloverdaleBooks/Padre.html 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]] [[Willie Doyle|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
* 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}}
*[http://www.army.mod.uk/20374.aspx Padres at War: Army chaplains bring comfort to the front line]. Royal Army Chaplains' Department webpage. British Army official website.

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-army-chaplains-department Royal Army Chaplains' Department] at the National Army Museum, Chelsea

{{Chaplains-General to the Forces}}
{{The British Army}}

[[Category:Royal Army Chaplains' Department| ]]
[[Category:British administrative corps]]
[[Category:British military chaplains| ]]
[[Category:Religion in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1796]]
[[Category:1796 establishments in Great Britain]]