Air Vice-Marshal John Raymond Ellis, CB, QHC (born 3 November 1963) is a British Anglican priest and former police officer. Between July 2018 and July 2022 he served as Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch and Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force. He had worked as a police officer and then in parish ministry in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich from 1997, before joining the Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch in 2004.
John Ellis | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ellis in 2018 | |
| Born | 3 November 1963 Republic of Malta |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 2004–2022 |
| Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
| Commands | Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath |
| Spouse(s) |
Amanda (m. 1985) |
Early life and education
editEllis was born on 3 November 1963 in Malta. He was educated at Hamond's Grammar School in Swaffham, Norfolk, England: the school became a comprehensive school as Hamond's High School while he was there. He worked as a police constable with Suffolk Constabulary from 1983 to 1995.[1]
Ordained ministry
editHaving trained for Holy Orders at St Stephen's House, Oxford, he was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1997 and as a priest in 1998.[2][3] From 1997 to 2000, he served his curacy in the multi-church benefice of Clare in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.[4] Then, from 2000 to 2002, he was priest-in-charge of St John's and St George's, Bury St Edmunds, two Anglo-Catholic churches in the town.[5][6] In 2002, the churches merged with a neighbouring church to form one benefice, and he became team vicar of All Saints with St John's and St George's, Bury St Edmunds.[4]
Military service
editFollowing training,[7] he was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch on 5 August 2004.[8] He then served as chaplain to several RAF stations, and served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.[7] He was promoted to the relative rank of squadron leader on 5 August 2006,[9] and to the relative rank of wing commander on 1 January 2011.[10] He then served as Joint Force Senior Chaplain in Afghanistan.[7] He was promoted to the relative rank of group captain on 23 March 2015.[11] He then served as Deputy Chaplain-in-Chief (Personnel) and was based at Headquarters Air Command.[7]
From 2017 to 2018, Ellis attended the Royal College of Defence Studies.[5] On 23 July 2018, he was appointed Chaplain in Chief (head of the RAF Chaplains Branch) and promoted to the relative rank of air vice-marshal.[12][13] As the most senior Anglican chaplain, he also served as Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force.[5] In December 2018, he was made an honorary canon of Lincoln Cathedral.[14] He retired from the RAF in July 2022.[15]
Personal life
editIn 1985, Ellis married Amanda. Together they have one son and one daughter.[5]
Honours
editIn 2017, Ellis was made an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC).[5] In 2019, he was awarded the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.[16] He is also a recipient of the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, the Iraq Medal, and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[7] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2022 Birthday Honours.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Ellis, John Raymond". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (1 December 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 6 January 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "John Raymond Ellis". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "Address by The Reverend (Group Captain) John Ellis RAF Deputy Chaplain in Chief" (PDF). Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ a b "John Raymond Ellis". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Ellis, Ven. John Raymond, (born 3 Nov. 1963), Director General Chaplaincy Services, Headquarters Air Command, and Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon, Royal Air Force, since 2018". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Bury St Edmunds St John the Evangelist". Explore Churches. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Chaplain in Chief and Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force: The Venerable (Air Vice-Marshal) John R Ellis QHC RAF". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "No. 57453". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 2004. p. 13824.
- ^ "No. 58076". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 August 2006. p. 11475.
- ^ "No. 59692". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 February 2011. p. 2150.
- ^ "No. 61245". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 2015. p. 10085.
- ^ "No. 62375". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 2018. p. 14040.
- ^ "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "Appointments". Church Times. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
ELLIS. The Ven. John Ellis, Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF (Royal Air Force Chaplaincy Service), now also Hon. Canon of Lincoln Cathedral (Lincoln).
- ^ "Appointments". Church Times. No. 8314. 22 July 2022. p. 23. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "No. 62797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 October 2019. p. 18451.
- ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B3.