The Royal Army Chaplains' Department (RAChD) is an all-officer corps that provides ordained clergy to minister to the British Army.
As of 2007, there are about 150 serving regular chaplains (commonly known as "padres") in the British Army; these can belong to one of several Christian churches, or to the Jewish faith, although currently all chaplains are Christian. Uniquely within the British Army, the Royal Army Chaplains' Department has two cap badges, for its Christian and Jewish officers. There are also chaplains in the Territorial Army and the Army Cadet Force.
Army chaplains, although they are all commissioned officers of the British Army and wear uniform, do not carry arms (and are the only officers not to carry swords on parade). At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes (many chaplains have been decorated for bravery in action, including three Victoria Crosses).
The RAChD's motto is "In this Sign Conquer". As seen in the sky before the battle of Milvian bridge by the Roman Emperor Constantine. Its regimental march, both quick and slow, is the Prince of Denmark's March, erroneously known as the Trumpet Voluntary.
From 1946 until 1996, the RAChD's Headquarters, Depot and Training Centre were at Bagshot Park in Surrey, now the home of The Earl and Countess of Wessex. In 1996, they moved to the joint service Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Amport House near Andover, formerly the home of the Royal Air Force Chaplain Branch.
Read more about Royal Army Chaplains' Department: History, Museum, Noncombatant Status, Representative Denominations in The RAChD, Ranks, Senior Chaplains, Order of Precedence
Famous quotes containing the words royal, army and/or department:
“The captain sat in a commodore’s hat
And dined in a royal way
On toasted pigs and pickles and figs
And gummery bread each day.”
—Charles Edward Carryl (1841–1920)
“It is necessary to turn political crisis into armed crisis by performing violent actions that will force those in power to transform the military situation into a political situation. That will alienate the masses, who, from then on, will revolt against the army and the police and blame them for this state of things.”
—Carlos Marighella (d. 1969)
“I believe in women; and in their right to their own best possibilities in every department of life. I believe that the methods of dress practiced among women are a marked hindrance to the realization of these possibilities, and should be scorned or persuaded out of society.”
—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (1844–1911)