British Army appoints first woman chaplain

LONDON — The British Army has appointed its first woman chaplain, 44-year-old Juliette Hulme, who was ordained a priest in 1995 and since 1998 has been working as a curate in Leatherhead.

On Feb. 18, Hulme reported to Sandhurst, the Army’s officer training college, for four weeks of military training. That will be followed by four weeks of chaplaincy training at the armed forces chaplaincy center, before taking up her duties with 7 Signal Regiment in Germany.

She will hold the rank of captain. The British Army currently has 153 chaplains, all men.

Hulme will not, however, be the first woman chaplain serving with the British armed forces. Although the Ministry of Defense was unable to say when the first woman was appointed, there has been one Royal Navy woman chaplain since 1992. Over the past decade or so the Royal Air Force had a chaplain from the United Reformed Church, Jackie Petrie, who is now retired, and since 1999 has included among its chaplains Eleanor Rance of the Church of England.