RAN Chaplain Clyde Appleby, left, is ordained as an Anglican priest in Parkes, NSW.

The Reverend Clyde Appleby RAN has been ordained as an Anglican priest.

His ordination before a packed congregation in St George’s Anglican Church in Parkes was the first ordination to take place at the church since 1988.

CHAP Appleby’s was one of two in-service ordinations to the Diaconate from the ADF. This is a new scheme, where people already serving in the forces are accepted for ordination.

Previously chaplains were recruited from civilian life and had to learn Navy’s ethos and protocols. Now chaplains return after two years’ training in a parish to build in ministry on their existing experiences and knowledge of the Forces.

Officiating at the ceremony, Reverend Marsden said the Anglican Parish of Parkes was proud to be at the cutting edge of the new scheme which has been initiated through an agreement between the Bishop of Bathurst and the Bishop to the Defence Forces.

The service was attended by a large number of people from the parish as well as CHAP Appleby’s wife, Linda, his family and friends, several of whom participated in the proceedings.

Also in attendance were senior Defence colleagues including CAPT Rick Longbottom, CAPT John Walton and CMDR Peter Kelly. The service was presided over by Bishop Richard Hurford, Bishop of Bathurst.

Assisting him were Bishop Tom Frame, Bishop to the Defence Forces, and PCHA the Venerable Eric Burton, Archdeacon to the Navy.
- Parkes Champion-Post

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