Royal Navy
Introduction
We lead a very mobile life in the Naval Service and from the days of sail and muskets, patterns of life have grown up to adapt some of the rites of passage to our circumstances: a ship’s bell for a font; an arch of swords for a wedding gateway; a mournful Last Post to commend someone to God.
Because we are a community of people spread to the ends of the earth, the geographical opportunities offered by parishes are not ours. We need to feed the life of faith in different ways.
These pages open up some of the opportunities we have and explain some of our customs and traditions. Your local Catholic Chaplain or the Principal Chaplain will be only too happy to take this further with you.
We are also fortunate to have a Pastoral Assistant, Ian Crabtree, a retired Royal Navy Commander, to assist the chaplains with the administration of the chaplaincy, the organising of events and Sacramental preparation. He is also the key link between the Chaplaincy and our Naval Catholic community.
If you would like to receive regular updates of life and events in the chaplaincy then please send an email to ian.crabtree277@mod.gov.uk to be included on the Chaplaincy email distribution. Please also feel free to use Ian as a first port of call for any queries you may have.
Father David Conroy QCVS QHC VE RN,
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval)
Click here to find out about becoming a Catholic Chaplain in the Armed Forces.
Chaplains
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain
Rev. David Conroy QHC QCVS RN (Galloway) 24 Sept 2000
Chaplains
Rev. David McLean OP BSc BD RN (Dominican) 18 Sept 1996
Rev. Robert Matau (Westminster) May 2015
Rev. Victor Dawkan (c/o Nottingham) Jan 2020
Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS)
Rev. Daniel F Hernandez (Gibraltar)
ESTABLISHMENTS IN PORTSMOUTH & PASTORAL AREA EAST
HMS Nelson, HM Naval Base
Royal Navy RC Pastoral Assistant
Cdr Ian Crabtree BSc MCIPD RN (rtd)
The Chaplaincy,
PDC (RC), NW Admiralty House, PP13,
HM Naval Base Portsmouth,
PO1 3LR
T: 023 9272 4232.
E:
HMS Sultan, Gosport
Rev. David Conroy QHC QCVS RN
The Chaplaincy,
HMS Sultan,
Military Road Gosport
PO12 3BY
T: 02392 542686
E:
ESTABLISHMENTS IN DEVONPORT & PASTORAL AREA WEST
HMS Raleigh
Rev. Robert Matau RN
The Chaplaincy,
HMS Raleigh,
Torpoint,
Cornwall
PL11 2PD
T: 01752 811225
E:
HMNB Devonport and DEVFLOT
Officiating Chaplain
Rev Mgr Bartholomew Nannery
T: 01752 555931
Britannia Royal Naval College
Under the care of the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain, RN
The Chaplaincy,
BRNC,
College Way,
Dartmouth,
Devon,
TQ6 0HJ T: 01803 677021
HMS Heron
RN Air Station, Yeovilton
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev. Jean-Patrice Coulon
(Served from The Holy Ghost Church, The Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4AR)
E:
Commando Logistics Regiment Royal Marines,
Chivenor
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev. Philip Waites
E:
ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE NORTH WEST
HMS Eaglet
Officiating Chaplain: Rev David Gamble
The Chaplaincy,
HMS Eaglet,
RNHQ Merseyside,
East Brunswick Dock,
Liverpool L3 4DZ
E:
JOINT SERVICE
JOINT SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS PJHQ
Rev. David McLean OP RN
Chaplain Office,
Permanent Joint Headquarters (UK),
Bldg 410,
Sandy Lane Northwood
HA6 3PH
T: 01923 955125
E:
HQBF Gibraltar
Rev. Danny Hernandez RN
Command Chaplain The King’s Chapel,
Main Street
BFPO 52
T: 00350 2005 5414
E:
ESTABLISHMENTS IN SCOTLAND
HMS Neptune,
HM Naval Base Clyde
Officiating Chaplain:
Rev Michael Maloney
T: 01436 674321 Ext 8266
45 Commando Royal Marines Officiating Chaplain
Rev. Michael Carrie
E: