First Permanent Deacon commissioned as RAF Chaplain

Rev David Skillen, a Permanent Deacon from the Diocese of Lancaster is the first Permanent Deacon to be commissioned as a Chaplain in the Royal Air Force. He was commissioned following training at RAF Cranwell as part of a specialist entrants course which included a Salvation Army and Presbyterian Chaplains, doctors and a lawyer. David, a former police officer and teacher has been posted as Catholic Chaplain to Royal Air Force Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Father James Caulfield, Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain to the RAF said: "I am very proud that David will be serving as the first Permanent Deacon to be commissioned as a Chaplain in the RAF. We desperately need more priests as Chaplains in the RAF but there is a great deal that a deacon can offer in provision of pastoral support to service personnel and their families.

David will be going to RAF Brize Norton, the hub of the transport fleet and more significantly the home of the RAF Aeromedical team and the site of the repatriation ceremonies. His previous work as a policeman and in prison chaplaincy will be of great value. His experience as a teacher will assist in teaching the Beliefs and Values Programme to the RAF trainees.

Deacon David Skillen graduated from RAF Cranwell on Thursday, 19 June, as the first Deacon to be commissioned for chaplaincy in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. From the Diocese of Lancaster, Deacon David served in the police before being ordained to the permanent diaconate and working in school chaplaincy.

Having successfully completed Officer Training, he begins his new ministry at RAF Brize Norton.

"Deacon David's commissioning is good news for the Bishopric of the Forces", said Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop of the Forces, "and will help us to explore new possibilities for chaplaincy. Given his experience, I am sure Deacon David will bring much to his role and I ask everyone in our RAF community especially to keep him and his family in prayer as he begins his new ministry."

Biography of Rev (Flt Lt) David Skillen

“You are here to remind us that there is something bigger and better out there than us.”
(quote from the RAF Chaplains’ Branch website – one servicemen to a padre)

Deacon David was born and grew up in the West Cumbrian town of Cleator Moor. He is the second of three children to David and Carol, and he is married to Nichola and together they have three sons Matthew, Alec and Jude. David attended his local Catholic primary and secondary schools before going on to study at the University College, Bretton Hall, in West Yorkshire, graduating from Leeds University with a BA (Hons) degree in Popular Music Studies (1996). David then served as a Police Officer with Cumbria Constabulary and it was during this time that he felt a calling to ordained ministry. In order to discern further his sense of calling David entered Catholic Education, qualifying as an RE teacher in 2003. Following much prayer and discernment, and successful selection, he began his diaconal studies and formation in 2006.

On 10th July 2010 David was ordained as a Permanent Deacon for the Lancaster Diocese, aged 35, by Bishop Michael Campbell OSA. At the time he was full time chaplain to St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Whitehaven, Cumbria, where he had worked both as a teacher and then as the first Lay-chaplain. Upon ordination he was appointed to serve the parish of St Begh, Whitehaven, a Benedictine parish of Belmont Abbey. In 2011 David completed his Master’s degree with the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, in Catholic Pastoral and Educational Studies. He also continued as the full-time chaplain to St Benedict’s school, and he served on the Lancaster Diocesan Board of Education, until last year when he left to pursue selection as an RAF Chaplain. Upon graduation from RAF College Cranwell, and as a Commissioned Officer, Deacon David will be the first deacon to serve as a Commissioned Chaplain in the RAF, a prospect he is deeply excited and humbled at. He graduates into the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

“I can’t wait to get stuck into the work of serving the men and women of the Royal Air Force and their families as a padre. They say God works in mysterious ways and certainly I would never have imagined myself ministering in this context, however, trusting in God’s plan for me and for my family, I am now raring to go! This is an ideal place for a deacon to be at work on behalf of the Church, a sacramental sign of Jesus’ closeness, and joyfully bearing witness to God’s love in what can be the most difficult of circumstances for our very brave men and women.”

In his spare time David enjoys playing, listening to and writing music, both popular and liturgical. He enjoys keeping fit, something which has been critical in the build up to and in the completion of RAF Officer training. David and his family enjoy time spent outdoors, walking and caravanning, and they look forward to exploring their new surroundings when they arrive at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, soon.

Anyone interested in exploring the possibility of a vocation as an RAF Chaplain can contact the Chaplains’ Branch direct or visit their local RAF Recruitment office.