safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of the more I dread seeing my brother in such a disagreeab our labours, and with thankful remembrance of Thy situation of life." mercies to praise and glorify Thy Holy Name; through The 19th century saw the dawn of better things. In 18 Jesus Christ our Lord." the Admiralty wanted Chaplains so badly, that they really
"Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with Thy most tackled the causes which made them scarce and inferior gracious favour, and further us with Thy continual help; All ships down to fifth-rate were ordered to carry the that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee, Recruitment and control was entrusted to a permanent we may glorify Thy Holy Name, and finally by Thy mercy Chaplain-General paid by the Admiralty. "Groats" were obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord." abolished, and improved regular pay started. The incre
But this great advance could not adequately make up for ments of this pay-scale and the provision of pensions make the unfavourable factors we have seen at work. In 1676/7 it clear that "continuous service" chaplains were desired Samuel Pepys tried to set things right. He directed his
attack particularly against the poor quality of chaplains.
Only a candidate who gave the Secretary of the Admiralty a written certificate from the Archbishop of Canterbury or
the Bishop of London of "the piety, learning, conformity,
and other qualifications of the said person fitting him for
the said charge," was in future to receive a warrant to serve
as Chaplain.
Shortly after this Henry Teonge, the parson of a small
Warwickshire parish, was driven by pressure from his These regulations were successful. During the remainder creditors to spend four years at sea. He wrote a most at- of the century they were supplemented by other orders, tractive diary of his experiences (The Diary of Henry which in effect produced the modern position. In 1844 Teonge, edited by G. E. Manwaring, Routledge, 1927). chaplains were first appointed by commission. In 1860 it
On 5th June, 1675, shortly after he embarked, he wrote, was decided that "Chaplains shall not hold any military "And here I might tell you what Providence put into my rank, but they are to be treated with the respect due to their hands (useful to one so much in want). Early in the morn- sacred office. The Chaplain-General in 1879 received the ing I met a rugged towel on the quarterdeck, which I soon official title "Chaplain of the Fleet," and in 1902 became secured. And soon after Providence brought me a piece an Archdeacon under the Archbishop of Canterbury. of an old sail and an earthen chamber pot; all very helpful But this is not the whole story. Whatever the condition to him that had nothing." and rate of pay we must in every period allow for the work
By the 22d June, despite some bad weather, he decided and influence of chaplains, who were real men of Go, that "no life at shore is comparable to this at sea, where Some of them we know. For example, the saintly Thoma we have good meat and good drink provided for us and Ken, later Bishop of Bath and Wells and Nonjuror, whose good company and good divertisments, without the least voice was "like to a nightingale for the sweetness of it," care, sorrow, or trouble; which will be continued if we served at sea in 1683. Far more important, however, have forget not our dutie-viz. loyalty and thankfulness." been those chaplains, who without fuss and noise humbl From this opinion Teonge never wavered, did their duty. Although their deeds are unrecorded, th
But we must return to our main theme. Pepys' scheme are largely responsible for the trust and respect, whic of testing continued till 1812, and the Chaplains remained their successors receive today. warrant officers till 1844. Thus the modern chaplain holds a unique position. He
But the evils Pepys had tried to conquer reappeared after has a "sacred office." Out of respect for this office he is his death. During the greater part of the 18th century "commissioned," butbecause he has such a function he is they were aggravated by the general decline in religious different from any other officer. His duty is to be "a frien life. Lord Barham, First Lord of the Admiralty at the and adviser" (as the modern regulation puts it) to "all on time of Trafalgar, said that during his first 16 years in board." the Navy he never heard prayers or Divine Service used. Like other officers he messes in the wardroom. Since Yet the Naval Regulations definitely ordered "Divine 1939 he has worn the ordinary Naval officer's uniform Service to be performed morning and evening on every when serving with the Navy,or khaki when serving Wi King's ship according to the liturgy of the Church of Eng- the Royal Marines. land, and a sermon preached on Sundays, unless bad But his uniform has no marks of rank. He wears a cap weather or other extraordinary accidents prevent it." with a distinguishing badge and black-braided peak. Even
There were not sufficient chaplains to go round. Many this uniform is not compulsory. Before the recent war of them were unsuitable. Some went to sea because they clerical collar and stock, a sober suit, and either black felt had to; some were chosen by captains to minister to hat or college cap (much favoured) of plain braided yacht, their own comfort and amusement-like the chaplain ing cap were the regulation dress. On formal occasions th shown in Hogarth's painting of Captain Lord George Gra- old clerical court dress was worn. ham; others drew the pay without doing the work. Horatio For church services the dress is the same as ashore, save Nelson probably summed up the position when in 1781 he for an emblem woven in silver and gold on the ends of the wrote to his brother William who was considering becom- black silk scarf. ing a chaplain "the more I see of Chaplains of men of war, Thanks to this official position and to the tradition of
4 The Army and Navy Chapilig