Royal Army Chaplains' Museum Holds Ground-Breaking Ceremony In Shrivenham

An official ceremony to break ground at the site of the new Royal Army Chaplains' Museum has taken place.

The new museum, which is expected to open to the public in summer next year at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, will tell the story of faith in the Armed Forces up to the present day, with a range of artefacts.

In attendance at the event was Major General Andrew Roe, Chief Executive of the Defence Academy and Commandant of Joint Services Command and Staff College, as well as the Venerable Clinton Langston, Chaplain-General and Archdeacon of the British Army.

The new attraction will be centred around a purpose-built exhibition gallery while also incorporating a faith garden and a research facility housed in the Beckett Gate Lodge.

As well as preserving the heritage of faith in the forces, the museum will also support those studying at the Defence Academy to better understand the significance of faith among those they command.

When open to the public, the museum will also act as a school resource teaching students about remembrance of war and peace, in a bid to strengthen ties with the local community.

The Armed Forces’ Chaplaincy Centre, which provides courses for British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force chaplains, relocated from Amport House in March to its new home in Beckett House at the Defence Academy.    The Defence Academy, as part of the Ministry of Defence, provides post-graduate education to train leaders from across the globe in strategy, operations, tactics, military command and staff leadership.

Cover image: The ground-breaking ceremony in Shrivenham (Picture: MOD).