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Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch
RAF Chaplains Branch Crest.png
RAF Chaplains Branch badge
Active 1 April 1918 – Present
Country  United Kingdom
Branch  Royal Air Force
Role Chaplaincy
Motto(s) Ministrare Non Ministrari
(Latin for To serve, not to be served)
Commanders
Chaplain-in-Chief Air Vice-Marshal Giles Legood
Insignia
Badge Royal Air Force Chaplain Collar Insignia enlarged

The Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch provides military chaplains for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the United Kingdom. Chaplains are like spiritual guides or ministers. They offer support and advice to RAF personnel and their families.

What the Chaplains Do (Mission)

The main goal of the RAF Chaplains Branch is to help everyone in the RAF community. They do this through prayer, being present for people, and sharing their faith.

Their motto is Ministrare Non Ministrari. This is Latin and means To serve, not to be served. It comes from an old saying in the Bible. It shows that their job is to help others.

A Look Back: History of RAF Chaplains

The Chaplains Branch officially started in December 1918. The very first Chaplain-in-Chief was Reverend Harry Viener. He took on this important role on October 11, 1918. Reverend Viener had worked as a chaplain for the Royal Navy before joining the RAF.

A special school for chaplains was set up in November 1943. It was at Magdalene College, which is part of Cambridge University. The school's motto was 'Truth'. Later, this school moved to different places. In December 1961, it moved to Amport House in Hampshire. However, Amport House was sold in 2016. Because of this, the Armed Forces Chaplaincy closed there in 2020.

How Chaplains Are Trained

RAF chaplains get their training at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. This is where they complete the Specialist Officers Initial Training Course (SOITC). This course teaches them what they need to know to be officers.

Both new chaplains and those training to become chaplains also learn at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre. This centre used to be at Amport House. But in 2020, it moved to Beckett House in Shrivenham. In 2020, Reverend Geoffrey Withers became the first RAF Chaplain to lead this centre.

Who Can Be a Chaplain? (Endorsing Authorities)

To become an RAF chaplain, a person must be approved by a religious group. Most RAF chaplains come from different Christian churches.

The British military also has chaplains from other world faiths. These include Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh chaplains. They serve all parts of the armed forces. The RAF also has an honorary Jewish chaplain, Rabbi Malcolm Weisman. He is the Senior Jewish Chaplain to HM Forces. In 2018, the first Sikh and Muslim military chaplains joined the RAF. They completed their training at Royal Air Force College Cranwell.

Chaplains Are Noncombatants

Chaplains in the military have a special role. They are considered noncombatants. This means they do not fight in battles. Their job is to offer spiritual and moral support. They are there to help people, not to engage in combat.

The Leader: Chaplain-in-Chief

The RAF Chaplains Branch is led by a person called the Chaplain-in-Chief. Harry Viener was the first person to hold this title.

If the Chaplain-in-Chief is an Anglican (Church of England), they also get another title. They become the Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force. If the Chaplain-in-Chief is not Anglican, then the most senior Anglican chaplain takes this title. They are also called the Principal Anglican Chaplain.

  • 1918–1926 Harry Viener CBE KHC
  • 1926–1930 Robert Hanson OBE KHC
  • 1930–1933 Sidney Clarke KHC
  • 1933–1940 James Walkey OBE KHC
  • 1940–1944 Maurice Edwards OBE KHC
  • 1944–1949 John Jagoe CBE KHC
  • 1949–1953 Leslie Wright CBE KHC
  • 1953–1959: Alan Giles CB CBE QHC
  • 1959–1965 Francis Cocks CB QHC (first Archdeacon for the RAF)
  • 1965–1969 Wilfred Payton CB QHC
  • 1969–1973 Leonard Ashton CB QHC
  • 1973–1980 Hewitt Wilson CB QHC
  • 1980–1983 Herbert Stuart CB QHC
  • 1983–1988 Glyndwr Renowden CB QHC FRSA
  • 1988–1991 Brian Halfpenny CB QHC FRSA
  • 1991–1995 Brian Lucas CB QHC FRSA
  • 1995–1998 Robin Turner CB DL QHC AKC
  • 1998–2001 Peter Bishop CB QHC FRSA
  • 2001–2006 Ron Hesketh CB QHC FRGS
  • 2006–2009 Peter Mills CB QHC (Church of Scotland)
    • Archdeacons for the Royal Air Force:
    • 2006 onwards: Ray Pentland CB QHC
  • 2009 – 2014 (ret.): Ray Pentland
  • 2014 – 2018 Jonathan Chaffey CB QHC
  • 2018 – 2022 (ret.): John Ellis CB QHC
  • 2022 – present Giles Legood MBE KHC AKC

World Faith Chaplains in the RAF

As of October 2021, the Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch has five chaplains from different world faiths:

  • Flt Lt. Mandeep Kaur (Sikh)
  • Mr Krishan Attri (Hindu)
  • Sqn Ldr. Imam Ali Omar (Muslim)
  • Dr Sunil Kariyakarawana (Buddhist)
  • Rabbi Reuben Livingstone CF (Jewish)

The RAF's Own Church: St Clement Danes

St Clement Danes Church is the main church for the Royal Air Force. It is located in the City of Westminster, London. For many years, RAF families have used this church for special events. These include weddings and baptisms. Memorial services and funerals are also held there.

The church keeps special Books of Remembrance. These books list the names of all those who have died while serving in the Royal Air Force. A group called the Friends of St Clement Danes helps support the church's work. Their main supporter is Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Resident Chaplains at St Clement Danes

  • 1958–1959 Gerald Groves OBE QHC
  • 1959–1960 Hugh Rees QHC
  • 1960–1965 Tom Ryder QHC
  • 1965–1969 Leonard Ashton CB QHC
  • 1969–1971 Walter Pellant OBE QHC AKC
  • 1971–1976 Thomas Thomas QHC
  • 1976–1979 Glyndwr Renowden CB QHC FRSA
  • 1979–1982 Dennis Clark MBE QHC
  • 1982–1984 Raymond Hubble QHC
  • 1984–1987 Roger Kenward QHC
  • 1987–1989 Michael Stokes QHC
  • 1989–1991 William Sirr QHC
  • 1991–1993 Anthony Goode QHC
  • 1993–1995 George McAvoy MBE QHC
  • 1995–1997 Peter Bishop CB QHC FRSA
  • 1997–2002 David Mackenzie QHC FRSA
  • 2002–2005 Christopher Long MBE QHC
  • 2005–2009 Thomas Lee QHC AKC FRSA
  • 2008–2010 Adrian Gatrill
  • 2010–2022 David Osborn QHC AKC
  • 2022–present Mark Perry MStJ FRSA

Images for kids

  • RAF Padre Phil

    A padre in combat uniform

  • Archbishop of Canterbury with military chaplains (Ray Pentland cropped)

    Ray Pentland in service dress

See also

  • RAF Chapel
  • Royal Army Chaplains' Department
  • Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service
  • Bishop to the Forces (Anglican)
  • Bishopric of the Forces (Roman Catholic)
  • Military chaplain § United Kingdom
  • Chaplain
  • Category:Royal Air Force chaplains
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