An Insight into Non-Religious Chaplaincy within the British Army. Neil Weddell
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An insight into Non-Religious Chaplaincy within the British Army. Padre Neil Weddell
Dr Neil Weddell is the first non-religious (Humanist) chaplain appointed within the British Army, bringing grounded pastoral and existential support to service personnel, veterans and their families. In a force where a growing proportion of soldiers identify as non-religious, Neil’s role embodies a practical, human-centred approach to pastoral care that respects diverse worldviews while fostering resilience, purpose and ethical reflection.
A career Army officer since 2003, with multiple operational tours including Afghanistan, Sierra Leone (Ebola) and Nigeria, he has served as an instructor, leadership tutor, and cultural adviser before moving into pastoral care work. His experience ranges from helping recruits through the trials of basic training to supporting individuals through loss, transition and existential challenge, drawing on both humanist philosophy and his lived understanding of military life.
Neil’s appointment reflects a broader evolution in military chaplaincy — one that recognises spiritual and moral support need not be tied to religion, but can be rooted in shared human values, empathy and reason.
Please note that this is an online only meeting via Zoom. Once you RSVP, you will be provided with the link to the meeting. Just click on this link when it is time to join the meeting. You can also join the meeting using a Zoom account and the following details:
Meeting ID: 744 950 4423
Passcode: Humanists
We are arranging a "Humanist Pub Night" in the back room of The Kenilworth pub in Edinburgh on Wednesday 4 March from 7pm onwards to allow people to meet together informally and discuss these and other topics. See separate Edinburgh Humanists Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/edinburghhumanists/ ) for full details.