Baptisms and Confirmations are not the first things that spring to mind when you think of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, though a group of current Officer Cadets in training may disagree.

Within the grounds of the Royal Military Academy is The Royal Memorial Chapel, the spiritual home of the Officer Corps of the British Army. Flowing through the Sandhurst estate you will also find the Wish Stream; a small, steep river which is the tributary of the River Blackwater.

Those who have passed through Sandhurst will remember wading through the Wish Stream during training and sitting in the Chapel in a moment of calm before taking to the parade square to ‘Pass Out’.

On Sunday 24th March, the Chapel and Wish Stream were the centre of attention for something very different, but just as memorable, for  13 Officer Cadets together with three RMAS staff.

The afternoon saw the Baptisms of Officer Cadet Smith in the Wish Stream by Revd James Harding and Revd Martin Robbins baptised Officer Cadet Morris. Confirmations then took place during an evening Service at The Royal Memorial Chapel filled with family, friends and colleagues.

The Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading, was very honoured to lead the Service in the presence of the Chaplain General, Deputy Chaplain General and Archdeacon for the Army.

Speaking before the Service the Bishop said: “It is an immense pleasure and privilege to be able to Confirm these fine young people who are taking what, for many, may seem like a counter-cultural step in their lives. To declare a faith in Jesus Christ is to embark on a bold and exciting adventure – we never know what God will do with our lives, once they are offered to him.

“My prayer for these young people, so deeply loved by God, for whom living a life of discipline and service is already a decision and a calling, is that they will daily be renewed in strength, courage and wisdom as they discover that to serve Christ is to find perfect freedom.” 

The candidates were prepared for Baptism and Confirmation by Padres Harding and Robbins, two of the three Academy Chaplains from the Royal Army Chaplains’ based at Sandhurst. They ran workshops over a number Sunday evenings leading up to the Service covering the fundamental beliefs of Christianity, the place of the Bible and uniqueness of the Church of England.

“These are the first confirmations for 8 years at the academy, and largest number of candidates for over 20 years. We have witnessed a growing curiosity and interest amongst cadets to explore faith and spirituality at RMAS. The Baptisms and Confirmations are fruit of a generation looking to someone other than themselves to find strength, hope and purpose, it has been a huge privilege and joy to be on the journey with them all,”

said Revd James Harding CF.

The Army recognises the importance of religion and belief amongst those who serve. The Royal Army Chaplains’ Department is an increasingly diverse and multi-cultural organisation which recruits both religious and non-religious personnel to provide pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance to the whole force and their families irrespective of faith, world philosophy or status.

Find out more about religion and belief in the Army here:

The Royal Memorial Chapel 

The original chapel was built in 1813, forming part of the Old College Building. The second chapel, designed by Royal Engineers, was built in 1879. In 1919 it was agreed the chapel should be enlarged and work began. The Chapel was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1921. Following completion of the final phase of work 16 years later, King George VI dedicated the chapel we know today on 2nd May 1937.

All Sandhurst Trust Tours involve a visit to the Royal Memorial Chapel.  To find out more and book a tour please visit here