Ray Jones (chaplain)

David Raymond Jones QHC (born 18 March 1934) is an Anglican priest and former Royal Navy chaplain. Jones was Director of Ordinands for the Royal Navy from 1977 to 1980 and an Honorary Chaplain to The Queen from 1984 to 1989. He was Warden and Director of the Divine Healing Mission from 1989 to 1997.[1]

The Reverend

Ray Jones

QHC
ChurchChurch of England
Orders
Ordination1958 (deacon)
by Robert Mortimer
Personal details
Born
David Raymond Jones

(1934-03-18) 18 March 1934
Carmarthenshire, Wales
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglicanism
Education
Alma mater

Early life and education

Jones was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on 18 March 1934. He attended two independent boarding schools: St Michael's School in Carmarthenshire and Truro School in Cornwall. In 1946, his brother died after experiencing vivid deathbed phenomena; his father died in a road accident the following year.[2] While at school, Jones was bedridden for a year with polio and told he would never walk again, though he later made a full recovery.[3]

He initially attended the University of Wales Trinity Saint David from 1951 to 1954. In September 1954, he matriculated as an undergraduate at two Oxford colleges: St. Catherine's College and Wycliffe Hall. He received his B.A. in 1957 and his M.A. in 1961.[4]

Ordained ministry

In September 1958, Jones was ordained in the Church of England at Exeter Cathedral by bishop Robert Mortimer.[1] He began his career as a curate at St David's Church, Exeter from September 1958 to July 1960. He was then curate at Tamerton Foliot from July 1960 to January 1961, and at the Church of St Mary, Bideford from January 1961 to September 1963. Following this, he was the school chaplain of Grenville College until July 1966.[5][6]

Jones joined the Royal Navy in September 1966.[1] He was chaplain to several of Her Majesty's Ships, including HMS Illustrious,[7] HMS Invincible, HMS Mercury, HMS Osprey, HMS Triumph, and HMS Drake,[8] and served in the Falklands War.[9] He also served as chaplain to RNH Mtarfa, the Royal Navy's main hospital in Malta, and to its senior base there. From 1977 to 1980, he was Director of Ordinands for the Royal Navy. In 1978, he returned to England to take up the post of Naval Director of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department, located in Amport House.[10] On 11 June 1984, he was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to The Queen, succeeding bishop Noël Jones.[11][1]

In 1989, Jones left the Navy and was given the post of Warden and Director of the Divine Healing Mission.[Note 1] He has been semi-retired since 1997, when he left the Divine Healing Mission.[12] Since 2009, he has resided in Steyning, West Sussex,[13] where he is an honorary chaplain at St Andrew and St Cuthman's Church.[14]

Explanatory notes
  1. The Divine Healing Mission (later renamed the Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre) was a revival of the Ministry of Healing by the Church of England. It is located in Crowhurst, East Sussex.

References
  1. "David Raymond Jones". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing.
  2. Crook, Colin (Winter 2018). "Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Ray Jones' Ordination" (PDF). Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre: 5. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. "Ray Jones` Testimony". Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre (Podcast). Worldwide Webdesign. 23 April 2018. Event occurs at 23:53. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. Crockford's clerical directory 2002/2003 : a directory of the clergy of the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church of Ireland. Internet Archive: Church House Publishing. 2001. p. 412. ISBN 9780715181188.
  5. Confirmation in school gym 21st February 1964
  6. Crockford's clerical directory : a reference book of the clergy of the provinces of Canterbury and York and of other Anglican provinces and dioceses. Internet Archive: Church House Publishing. 1973. p. 510. ISBN 0192000063.
  7. Thomas, Steve (3 May 2019). "The Master's Musings". Worshipful Company of Lightmongers. Voltimum. Retrieved 17 February 2023. Rev Ray Jones RN (former Chaplain HMS Illustrious V)
  8. FANFARE. Vol. 4 No. 1 P. 13
  9. Angels. Internet Archive: Avon Publications. 1994. p. 166. ISBN 9780380723317.
  10. Jones, Ray (Summer 2018). "An Appreciation of Bryan Beggs" (PDF). Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre: 10. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  11. "No. 49800". The London Gazette. 10 July 1984. p. 9433.
  12. Crook, Colin (Autumn 2010). "Reverend Ray Jones" (PDF). Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre: 9. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  13. Crockford's clerical directory 2018-2019 : a directory of the clergy of the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church of Ireland. Internet Archive: Church House Publishing. 2017. p. 489. ISBN 9780715111284.
  14. "Who's Who". Steyning Parish Church of St Andrew and St Cuthman. Steyning Parish Church of St Andrew and St Cuthman. Retrieved 17 February 2023. He was a Royal Naval Chaplain for 23 years, including a time as Royal Naval Director of Ordinands. His last post before he retired was as Director of the Divine Healing Mission, now the Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre. He was an Honorary Chaplain to The Queen from 1984 until 1989.
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