Stuart Hallam
The Revd. Stuart Hallam is an Anglican Royal Navy Chaplain, notable for being one of the handful of Commando Trained chaplains.
Hallam was born and brought up in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and graduated from St Martin's College, Lancaster in 1992 after reading for a Social Policy degree. After some time working as a youth worker in London he was called to the priesthood and went up to Cambridge to read theology through Wolfson College. He trained for the ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge, and was ordained in 1999, despite the fact that his college principal recommended his ordination with, 'every confidence and a temor of trepidation.'[1]
He was Curate of St. Mary's Battersea between 1999 and 2001 after which he joined the Royal Navy as a Chaplain.[2] After a brief period at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he was awarded the prize for being the, 'Cadet who made the most outstanding contribution to Initial Sea Training' whilst onboard HMS Campbletown in the Gulf, he undertook Commando Training at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, where his progress through the Commando Course and his struggles to overcome injury were featured on the television programme "Chaplain RN".[3]
He was awarded the ‘Green Beret’ on 11 July 2003[4]
In 2007, whilst serving with 40 Commando in Afghanistan,[5] he was featured in the Daily Mail during a debate on whether Chaplains should be armed.[6]
References
- ↑ Petertide Ordinations in Southwark - Diocesan Press Release
- ↑ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 2002-2003 ed.
- ↑ Chaplain RN - LocateTV
- ↑ Wolfson College Magazine 2002-2004, No. 28
- ↑ No peace for Marines on Christmas patrol - Telegraph
- ↑ Navy chaplains want right to carry weapons to protect themselves against the Taliban | Mail Online