Name 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, having served as Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force and head of its Chaplains Branch from 2009 to 2014.
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Early life
Pentland was born on 14 July 1957, Greenock, Scotland, to Adam Jackson Pentland and Edith Henderson Pentland. He was educated at Cowdenknowes High School.
Civilian ministry
Pentland attended the William Booth Memorial Training College from 1977. Upon graduation in 1979, he became an Officer of The Salvation Army. He served in number of inner city locations throughout the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1986.
In 1986, he left The Salvation Army to enter St John's College, Nottingham and train for ordination into the Church of England. He was ordained a deacon in 1988, in Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire. He then became Assistant Curate of St. Jude's Church, Mapperley, Nottingham. He was ordained a priest in 1989.
Military career
In 1990, Pentland attended the Specialist Entrant and Re-entrant Course at RAF Cranwell. 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. On 26 August 1991, he was promoted to the relative rank of squadron leader. He transferred from a short service commission to a permanent commission on 1 November 1993. As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to the relative rank of wing commander on 1 January 2003.
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.
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.
Pentland transferred to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force as a member of the Personnel Branch to serve as a Chair of Service Complaints Appeal Bodies in the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
He is Chaplain to The Battle of Britain Fighter Association (the Few) and a Trustee of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. Pentland is also Chaplain to two City of London Livery Companies, The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and The Honourable Company of Air Pilots. In addition to being Patron of the RAF Widows Association Pentland is also the Honorary Assistant Curate St James Garlikhythe.
Personal life
In 1979, Pentland married Christine Ann Lyth. Together they have one son, Jackson, (born Adam) and one daughter, Elizabeth.
Honours and decorations
On 27 March 2006, Pentland was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC). In the 2013 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).