Roman Catholic Bishopric Of The Forces
"Defende nos in Proelio"
Principal Chaplains
Royal Navy - Fr David Conroy QCVS QHC
Fr David Conroy was ordained priest on 19 September, 1992 and subsequently served as a school chaplain, hospital chaplain, prison chaplain and Parish Priest before joining the Royal Navy in September 2000. On completion of his training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth he was appointed as chaplain to 2nd Frigate Squadron, deploying immediately with HMS SHEFFIELD on a 6 month deployment participating in counter-drug operations in the Carribean. Several shorter deployments with the rest of the squadron followed, ending with a move to HMS PORTLAND for her 6 month deployment to the Gulf as she enforced the no-fly zone off Iraq.
In 2002 he was appointed to HMS COLLINGWOOD as Catholic Chaplain and later also took on the role of Chaplaincy Team Leader, heading up chaplaincy provission in western Europe's largest military training establishment. Toward the end of his tour he participated in an exchange with the Royal Australian Navy as part of ‘EX LONGLOOK’. His time at HMAS CRESWELL ended with a Commanding Officers Commendation for his introduction of a ‘Command Watch’ Duty of Care monitoring process.
In 2006 he took over as Chaplaincy Team Leader at HMNB Portsmouth and in 2008 moved to be chaplain to the small ship world, providing pastoral care to the Hunt and River class ships, spending the vast majority of his time deployed.
In 2010 he was appointed Chaplaincy Team Leader at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. In 2011 he deployed to Afghanistan as Joint Aviation Group (JAG) Chaplain on HERRICK 14 for which he received a QCVS in the Operational Honours List. During this time he was the only UK catholic priest in Afghanistan.
In 2012 he was appointed chaplain to the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and remained with her until she decommissioned in 2014, participating in OP PATWIN as HMS ILLUSTRIOUS delivered humanitarian relief to the Philippines following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan.
In 2015 he was appointed to Bahrain as chaplain to the United Kingdom Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), providing pastoral care to all Gulf units and personnel as well as providing Catholic cover for units of the United States Navy Fifth Fleet.
He took up his appointment as Catholic Chaplain and Chaplaincy Team Leader at HMS RALEIGH in February 2016 where he remain until returning to UKMCC in February 2018 to set up the chaplaincy provision within the newly opened Naval Support Facility. In September of that year he took up his appointment as CTL at HMS SULTAN, later appointed Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval) in early 2019 and at the same time appointed as Honorary Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen (QHC).
"Friend and Advisor To All Onboard"
Army -Revd Fr Stephen Sharkey CF
Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain
Father Stephen was born in Glasgow. He has twin sisters who have between them 10 children. After working as a Telecommunications Engineer for eight years predominantly with GEC, he entered the National Seminary for Scotland, Scotus College in 1993 where he studied for a Diploma in Philosophy (DipPh) and a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) in preparation for Ordination as a Roman Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Galloway on 25th June 1999.
Father Stephen was assistant Priest in Dumfries before becoming Parish Priest of the Parishes of Lockerbie and Moffat. He was a Scottish Prison Service Chaplain serving in both mainstream prisons and a Young Offenders Institute, he was also a Co-Ordinating Hospital Chaplain. Laterally he was Parish Priest in Beith and Dalry, North Ayrshire.
Father Stephen started his military involvement as a Territorial Army Soldier from 1986 till 1991 and became a Chaplain to West Lowland Army Cadet Force where he served for seven years. Stephen joined the Royal Army Chaplains Department as a Regular Chaplain on 15th September 2008. He has been Chaplain at Churchill Lines based in St Athan in Wales and more recently Chaplain at Hereford. He is currently Senior Chaplain at 8 Engineer Brigade.
He was previously Senior Chaplain Army Training Centre Pirbright, the largest Phase One training establishment in the British Army (Basic Training Center). Assistant Chaplain in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Chaplain to 3rd Battalion, Royal Horse Artillery and 2 Medical Regiment based in Hohne, Germany where he deployed on Op Herrick 19 with 7th Armoured Brigade from September 2013 through until April 2014. Previous to his appointment in British Forces Germany he was Chaplain to 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment in Cyprus, Episkopi Garrison Chaplain and the only Roman Catholic Chaplain in British Forces Cyprus. He also served in Cyprus with 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster Regiment and with 4 Rifles based in Bulford, Wiltshire returning from Afghanistan on 2nd October 2009 after a four month tour on Op Herrick 10 where he was in Nad Ali, Helmand Provence with 4 Rifles as part of the Election Surge Force.
Father Stephen's hobbies include cycling, he has cycled from Glasgow to Santiago De Compostela and Glasgow to Warsaw for various charities and from his base in Newcastle as his Regiment rebased from Germany to UK. Father Stephen has also moved from a pedal cycle to owning a motorcycle, passing his test in Cyprus. He enjoys skiing and trying to keep fit.
"In this Sign Conquer"
Royal Air Force - Deacon David Skillen
Born in 1975 Padre Dave Skillen grew up in west Cumbria. He attended University College, Bretton Hall (West Yorks), graduating in 1996 with a BA (hons) in Popular Music Studies (Leeds). Returning to Cumbria Padre Skillen joined Cumbria Constabulary as a Constable and on exiting the service, after almost five years, he entered the world of Catholic Education where he remained until joining the RAF in 2014.
As a police officer Padre Skillen undertook duties as a Tutor Constable, in community and rural policing, and in public order. Sensing a religious vocation, he left the police in 2002 and trained as a secondary school RE teacher. In his teaching career he taught RE and Music. In 2006 Padre Skillen moved from a teaching role to a Chaplaincy role. He also began training for ministry within the RC Diocese of Lancaster, and was ordained Deacon in July 2010. He served the parish of St Begh (Whitehaven) and in 2011 obtained his Master’s degree in Catholic Pastoral & Educational Studies from The Maryvale Institute, Birmingham (OU).
Ready for a fresh challenge Padre Skillen joined the RAF Chaplains’ Branch in April 2014. Upon graduation from RAF College Cranwell he was posted to RAF Brize Norton as Station Chaplain. During his first tour Padre Skillen was awarded the CO’s Commendation for his work during Op Tailpin (repatriation of 30 British Civilians shot on a beach in Tunisia in 2015). He also completed a four month detachment to BFSAI as Force Chaplain at the end of which he received the CBF’s Commendation for outstanding service. In July 2016 he was posted to RAF Halton as Station Chaplain, and in January 2019 he was deployed on Op SHADER. On 1 July 2019 was posted to RAF Odiham as Station Chaplain and on 11 July 2019 he was appointed by The Bishop of the Forces as the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain for the RAF.
Beyond work, Padre Skillen spends time with friends and family. He is married to Nichola and they have three boys: The family home is always full of visitors! He enjoys sport, especially running, rugby, cycling and snooker. To remain sane, Padre Skillen listens to, plays and writes most types of music.