Royal Navy
Introduction
Father David Conroy QCVS QHC VE RN,
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval)
Welcome to the Royal Navy section of the Bishopric website where hopefully you will get a flavour of what life is like for our serving Catholic laity and clergy. The Royal Navy is distinct in the way that its chaplains minister to its people, devoid as we are of structured rank. Instead we use the convention that the rank of chaplain ‘floats’ to match the rank of whoever the chaplain is talking to, thus ensuring that the conversation happens between equals. It’s a convention that the Senior Service has used for centuries and it has served us well, allowing Sailors and Royal Marines to use the familiar term ‘Bish’ when addressing their chaplain.
The Gospels are awash with events that happen on, or close to, the sea. As catholic priests, serving in this challenging but hugely rewarding environment, we seek to make the Gospel of Christ real to our men and women so that they are supported morally, spiritually and emotionally as they serve our great maritime nation. And our catholic serving personnel respond with great enthusiasm and faith.
For our chaplains this is a specialist ministry. Our naval ‘parish’ is diverse, young and enthusiastic. As well as serving their country our people also face the challenges of everyday life. We are here to be with them on that journey, to celebrate the sacraments with them, to pray with them and to encourage them in their faith. It would give us great comfort to know that you, whoever you are and wherever you may be, are praying for us too, perhaps using the final verse of the naval hymn:
O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren’s shield in danger’s hour;From rock and tempest, fire and foe,Protect them wheresoe’er they go;Thus evermore shall rise to TheeGlad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Finally, if you would like to know more about catholic life in the Royal Navy please feel free to get in touch either with me directly or via our Pastoral Assistant Ian Crabtree. Ian.crabtree277@mod.gov.uk
Ian also looks after sacramental preparation, religious and social events. If you would like to be added to our database and receive updates about IMP Lourdes, HCPT etc please let him know.
Click here to find out about becoming a Catholic Chaplain in the Armed Forces.
News
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Welcome and congratulations to our newest Catholic chaplain, Fr Thomas Bakulumpagi who completed his training with a pass out parade held at HMS EXCELLENT on Thursday 3 September 2020. Our picture shows Fr Thomas with former parishioners Rear Admiral Tim Hodgson and his wife Jane together with the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval) Father David Conroy.
It was a warm sunny day on 8 th
August 2020 when baby
Florence Green was baptised
by Fr David Conroy at St Ann’s Church in Her Majesty’s
Naval Base, Portsmouth. Please pray for baby Florence
and her family as, together, they grow in faith.
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Baby Taron Dudley was welcomed into
the Catholic Faith by Fr David Conroy,
through baptism, on Saturday 26
September 2020 at St Ann’s Church in
Her Majesty’s Naval Base, Portsmouth.
Please pray for baby Taron and his family as, together, they grow in faith.
A belated welcome to Fr
Victor Dakwan RN, who joined
the trained strength in
January. Having completed a
4-month deployment onboard
HMS ARGYLL in the Gulf, he
has recently moved to HMS Raleigh to minister to the Navy’s new recruits.
Chaplains
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval)
Rev. David Conroy QHC RN (Galloway) 24 Sept 2000
Chaplains
Rev. David Conroy QHC RN (Galloway) 24 Sept 2000
Rev. Robert Matau RN (Westminster) May 2015
Rev. Victor Dakwan RN (c/o Nottingham) 4 Apr 2020
Rev. Thomas Bakulumpagi RN (Southwark) 3 Sep 2020
Rev. Daniel Hernandez RN (Gibraltar)
Officiating Chaplains to the Military (OCM)
Rev Philip Carroll
Rev Jean-Patrice Coulon
Rev David Gamble
Rev John Humphreys
Rev Michael Maloney
Rev Mgr Bartholomew Nannery
Rev Deacon Philip Waites
Pastoral Assistant
Cdr Ian Crabtree KSG RN (Rtd)
ESTABLISHMENTS IN PORTSMOUTH & PASTORAL AREA EAST
HMS Nelson
HM Naval Base Portsmouth
Cdr Ian Crabtree KSG RN (rtd)
The Chaplaincy,
Admiralty House North Wing, PP13,
HM Naval Base Portsmouth
PO1 3LR
T: 02392 724232
Surface Flotilla (East)
Rev Robert Matau RN
Rev Thomas Bakulumpagi RN
E. Thomas.Bakulumpagi100@mod.gov.uk
The Chaplaincy, Rodney Block
HMS Nelson, HM Naval Base Portsmouth
PO1 3HH
T: 02392 723000
HMS Sultan
Rev. David Conroy QHC RN
The Chaplaincy, HMS Sultan,
Military Road, Gosport
PO12 3BY
T: 02392 542686
E: David.conroy977@mod.gov.uk
ESTABLISHMENTS IN DEVONPORT & PASTORAL AREA WEST
HMS Drake
HM Naval Base Devonport
OCM: Rev Mgr Bartholomew Nannery
The Chaplaincy, Fisher Block,
HMS Drake, HMNB Devonport,
PL2 2BG
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 Raleigh
Rev. Victor Dakwan RN
The Chaplaincy, HMS Raleigh,
Torpoint, Cornwall
PL11 2PD
T: 01752 811225
E: Victor.Dakwan100@mod.gov.uk
HMS Heron
RN Air Station Yeovilton
OCM: Rev. Jean-Patrice Coulon
The Chaplaincy, RNAS Yeovilton,
Yeovilton, Somerset
BA22 8HT
(Served from The Holy Ghost Church,
The Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4AR)
T: 01935 423549
Commando Logistics Regiment Royal Marines
OCM: Rev. Deacon Philip Waites
The Chaplaincy, CDO LOG REGT RM,
Chivenor, Barnstaple, Devon
EX31 4AZ
T: 01271 879344
E: Philwaites@uwclub.net
ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE NORTH WEST
HMS Eaglet
RNHQ Merseyside
OCM: Rev David Gamble
The Chaplaincy, HMS Eaglet,
RNHQ Merseyside,
East Brunswick Dock, Liverpool
L3 4DZ
T: 0151 929 2149
JOINT SERVICE
HQBF Gibraltar
Rev. Danny Hernandez RN
Command Chaplain, The King’s Chapel,
Main Street, Gibraltar
BFPO 52
T: 00350 2005 5414
E: Daniel.Hernandez830@mod.gov.uk
ESTABLISHMENTS IN SCOTLAND
HMS Neptune
HM Naval Base Clyde
OCM: Rev Michael Maloney
The Chaplaincy, HMS Neptune,
HMNB Clyde, Faslane, Helensburgh,
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
G84 8HL
T: 01436 674321 Ext 8266
E: Michael.Maloney102@mod.gov.uk
45 Commando Royal Marines
OCM: Vacant
The Chaplains Office
45 CDO Group RM, RM Condor,
Arbroath, Angus, Scotland
DD11 3SP
T: 01382 539476
E: