Army
Introduction
Welcome to the Army section of the Forces’ Bishopric web-site. As current Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Army it is my pleasure to invite you to explore the contribution of serving Catholic personnel who enrich the life of the Army by their faithful presence, and to learn more about the ministry of Catholic clergy who minister across the Army community within units, brigades, divisions, and garrisons. Army chaplains support service personnel of all ranks together with their families, alongside the extensive network of civilian support staff who work across defence. The fundamental basis of ministry to the Army has not changed in centuries despite technological advances. It is rooted in the Gospel precepts which were so well summarised by the famed World War 1 chaplain, the Reverend Geoffrey Studdert-Kennedy MC, who pointed out that personnel will forgive anything in a chaplain but lack of courage and devotion, and so urged them to approach soldiers with love in their hearts, and while living alongside them, “Laugh with them. Joke with them. You can pray with them sometimes, but pray for them always.”
Chaplains are fortunate to carry the baton of faith and service passed to them by generations of such illustrious predecessors for over 200 years, and so minister to those in adversity and danger in our present challenging times. The profile of Catholic personnel in the Army is widespread and respected, and opportunities to gather and celebrate our faith together feature throughout the year – most notably at the annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes every May. I hope that what you learn here of our Army life and faith will interest and inspire you. Please pray for our chaplains and for our service personnel. Our wonderful, gifted, and diverse community welcomes your interest, but especially your prayers. Thank you.
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Army) and Deputy Chaplain General to HM’s Land Forces.
Click here to find out about becoming a Catholic Chaplain in the Armed Forces.
Chaplains
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain
Rev. Fr Michael Fava CBE QHC
Regular Commissions
Deputy Chaplain General:
Rev. Michael Fava (Portsmouth) 27 Jan 97
Chaplains 2nd Class:
Rev. Ian J Stevenson (Paisley) 03 Sep 01
Rev. Paschal J Hanrahan (Killaloe) 26 Sep 05
Rev. Mgr Canon Robert Corrigan (Clifton) 15th Sept 08
Chaplains 3rd Class:
Rev. Donald J Cumming (Glasgow) 13 Oct 97 01
Rev. David G S Smith (East Anglia) 23 Sep 02
Rev. Daren G Brown (Nottingham) 10 Jan 05
Rev. Stephen Sharkey (Galloway) 15 Sept 08
Rev. Paul McCourt (Hexham & Newcastle) Sept 14
Rev. Mgr John F Nelson (Portsmouth) Sept 18
Chaplains 4th Class
Rev. Philip Smith (Southwark) Sept 15
Rev. Patrick O’Driscoll (Cloyne) Sept 17
Reserve Chaplains
Rev. Duane Reilly (Leeds)
Army Cadet Force
Rev. Anthony Cornforth (Hexham and Newcastle)
Rev. Dr Gerard Fieldhouse Byrne (Salford)
Rev. D A Gamble (Liverpool)
Rev. Kevin Dow (Edinburgh)
Rev. John Moriarty (Lancaster)
Rev. Francis J Lynch (Wrexham)
ESTABLISHMENTS IN ENGLAND
ALDERSHOT, Hants
The Cathedral Church of St Michael & St George
Dean: Rev. Nicholas Gosnell VG
St Michael’s House,
Queen’s Avenue,
Aldershot
GU11 2BY
T: 01252 315042
E:
Rev. Mgr Robert Corrigan
HQ 11 Inf Bde & SE,
Roebuck House,
Cravans Road,
Aldershot
GU11 2LQ
T: 01252 347824
E:
ANDOVER
Rev Michael Fava CBE QHC
Deputy Chaplain General
MOD Chaplains (Army) Blenheim Building,
Ground Floor Zone 1,
IDL 3,
Marlborough Lines,
Monxton Road,
Andover,
SP11 8HT
T: 01264 887170
E:
BIRMINGHAM
Rev. David Smith
Chaplain,
Royal Centre for Defence Medicine,
Level 2, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham,
Mindelsohn Way,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham
B15 2WB
T: 0121 371 5310
E:
BULFORD, Wilts
Church: Our Lady Queen of Peace, Served from Tidworth
CATTERICK, North Yorks
St Joan of Arc,
Hipswell Road,
Catterick Garrison
OL9 3BP
Rev. Paul McCourt
Chaplain LD,
Gaza Barracks,
Catterick Garrison
DL9 4AU
T: 01748 874084
E:
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev Tim Forbes-Turner
E:
CHATHAM, Kent
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev. G Dyer
E:
DONNINGTON
Rev. Ian Stevenson
DACG 11 Sig Bde & HQ,
West Midlands,
Venning Barracks,
Donnington,
Telford
TF2 8LF
T: 01952 673672
E:
EPISKOPI – CYPRUS
Rev Mgr John Nelson
Chaplain,
2 Mercian,
Salamanca Barracks,
Episkopi Garrison
BFPO 53
T: 00357 2596 2080
E:
HARROGATE
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev Stephen Webb
E:
LIVERPOOL, Altcar
Army Training Unit NW
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev David Gamble
E:
LONDON, Wellington Barracks
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev. Nicholas Gosnell
E:
MARKET DRAYTON
1 Royal Irish
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev Canon Jonathan Mitchell
E:
PIRBRIGHT, Surrey
Army Training Centre (P),
Alexander Barracks,
Pirbright,
Woking
GU24
Served from Sandhurst
RIPON
Rev. Donald J Cumming
Chaplain,
21 Engr Regt, Claro Barracks,
Ripon
HG4 2RD
T: 01765 632304
E:
RUTLAND
Rev. Paschal Hanrahan
Senior Chaplain,
HQ 7th Infantry Brigade & HQ East,
B-90 Kendrew Bks,
Cottesmore,
Rutland
LE15 7BL
T: 01572 812241 ext 7146
E:
SANDHURST, Berks
Rev. Pip Smith
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,
Camberley,
Surrey
GU15 4PQ
T: 01276 412223
E:
THORNEY ISLAND, West Sussex
12 Regt and 16 Regt RA
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev. John Humphreys TD
E:
TIDWORTH, Hants
Rev. PJ O’Driscoll
Chaplain
1 RRF Mooltan Barracks,
Tidworth,
Wiltshire
SP9 7EN
T: 01980 651468
E: