Ray Pentland

The Venerable (Air Vice-Marshal) Raymond Jackson 'Ray' Pentland, CB, QHC (born 14 July 1957) is a British Church of England priest. He is a retired military chaplain, serving as Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force and head of its Chaplains Branch from 2009 to 2014.

Early life

Pentland was born on 14 July 1957, Greenock, Scotland, to Adam Jackson Pentland and Edith Henderson Pentland.[1][2] He was educated at Cowdenknowes High School.[1]

Career

Civilian ministry

Pentland attended the William Booth Memorial Training College from 1977.[2] Upon graduation in 1979, he became an Officer of The Salvation Army.[1] He served in number of inner city locations throughout the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1986.[2][1]

In 1986, he left The Salvation Army to enter St John's College, Nottingham and train for ordination into the Church of England.[2] He was ordained a deacon in 1988, in Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire.[1][2] He then became Assistant Curate of St. Jude's Church, Mapperley, Nottingham.[2] He was ordained a priest in 1989.[1]

Military career

In 1990, Pentland attended the Specialist Entrant and Re-entrant Course at RAF Cranwell.[2] On 26 August 1990, he was commissioned into the Chaplains Branch of the Royal Air Force as a chaplain with the relative rank of flight lieutenant. He was given the service number 5207651M.[3] On 26 August 1991, he was promoted to the relative rank of squadron leader.[4] He transferred from a short service commission to a permanent commission on 1 November 1993.[5] As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to the relative rank of wing commander on 1 January 2003.[6]

On 27 March 2006, he was appointed Principal Anglican Chaplain and Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force. On 1 April 2009, he was selected to succeed Peter Mills as Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force. On 1 October, he took up the appointment in addition to his role as Archdeacon, becoming the 21st Chaplain in Chief.[2]

He is a member of the House of Clergy in the General Synod of the Church of England, having been appointed as the RAF Member in 2005.[7] [1]

Personal life

In 1979, Pentland married Christine Ann Lyth.[1] Together they have one son, Jackson, (born Adam) and one daughter, Elizabeth.[2]

Honours and decorations

On 27 March 2006, Pentland was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC).[8] In the 2013 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "PENTLAND, Ven. Raymond Jackson". Who's Who 2013. A & C Black. November 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "The Venerable (Air Vice-Marshal) Ray J Pentland CB QHC BA DPS MTh RAF". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52295. p. 15789. 8 October 1990. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52672. p. 14861. 30 September 1991. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53580. p. 1921. 7 February 1994. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56811. pp. 129–132. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "House of Clergy". General Synod of the Church of England. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57939. p. 4355. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60367. p. 2. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
Military offices
Preceded by
Ron Hesketh		 Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force
2006 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Peter Mills		 Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force
2009 – present 		Incumbent