Reserves of Faith: a Royal Navy Chaplain
Simon Chapman is a Chaplain at a UK boarding school by day, a Chaplain with the Royal Navy in his spare time, and is now mobilised with the coronavirus effort. Find out about the role of a Chaplain in times of difficulty.
Wanting to join the Royal Navy since childhood, Simon is a pillar of support to sailors on the frontline and their families during the pandemic. Offering spiritual and pastoral care to those in lockdown, he is an essential part of the military community.
Working with servicemen and women in the Royal Navy brings different challenges to working in a school, but Simon says:
My skill as a vicar has been greatly enhanced by the training and experience that I have received in the Armed Forces.
Simon finds his job incredibly rewarding, he says:
The great part about being a member of the Royal Navy is that I never feel that I am on my own. When I encounter a situation with an individual that is complex, I can immediately call on the assistance of medical staff, mental health professionals, welfare support workers and the individual’s chain of command.
This means that the individual receives all of the support that they need — incredibly quickly.
A Chaplain holds no formal rank, and Simon’s Chaplain title in the Royal Navy allows him to offer counsel to servicemen and women of any status. Pastoral support is accessible to all members of the Forces and offers a confidential space to talk through problems at work and home.
Simon has had a diverse career: he acted as a Chaplain in Afghanistan during Herrick, where he held a weekly Church of England service, ran the Easter services, and vigils and repatriation services in times of tragedy. Being able to travel with the troops in Afghanistan and assist in a range of roles, has been the marker of a career that is never the same two days in a row.
Before joining the Navy, he was part of the RAF Reserves. His career will hold a range of new challenges in the month to come, but he is prepared and confident.
