A humanist milestone in the armed forces

By David Brittain

The appointment of the first Humanist chaplain in the British Armed Forces marks a historic moment – and one that has personal significance for our founding editor, who helped build the bridge between Humanists UK and the Ministry of Defence more than a decade ago. David is the Founding Editor of Humanistically Speaking and founder of the UK Armed Forces Humanist Association (UKAFHA).

This month brings a remarkable milestone for the humanist movement in the United Kingdom: the appointment of Neil Weddell as the first humanist chaplain in the UK Armed Forces. The achievement will be marked by a dinner hosted by Humanists UK in London, bringing together senior figures from the Ministry of Defence and the armed services to celebrate what Chief Executive Andrew Copson has described as ‘a landmark in the continuing evolution of chaplaincy and inclusion within the armed forces.’

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For me personally, this moment is also a source of quiet pride. More than a decade ago, I helped to lay the groundwork for this very development, during my time as leader of what was then the UK Armed Forces Humanist Association (UKAFHA). When I took on that role around twelve or thirteen years ago, the association was small and struggling – with barely twenty active members across all branches of the services.

Determined to raise our visibility, I launched a monthly newsletter and designed posters that members could print and pin to noticeboards in barracks, air stations, and naval bases. The posters drew attention and helped our numbers to grow rapidly into the hundreds. One, however, caused unexpected controversy. It asked, perhaps a little cheekily:

‘When you are in danger and the flak’s flying, do you worry about praying to God, or looking out for your mates?’

I soon learned that some chaplains found this offensive, and a senior naval officer – Commander John Craig, himself openly humanist – was summoned to account for it before the Chaplain of the Fleet, a Vice Admiral. When John relayed the concern to me, I immediately ordered all members to withdraw the poster. The Vice Admiral was impressed by our goodwill and invited me to meet him at his headquarters in Portsmouth. I brought Andrew Copson with me, and that meeting proved to be a turning point. It opened the door to genuine dialogue and cooperation between Humanists UK and the Ministry of Defence.

From that point on, relations steadily improved. The Ministry of Defence agreed to host our AGMs on military property and later invited Humanists UK to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph each year in memory of fallen humanists – a privilege that continues to this day. Now, with the appointment of the first officially recognised humanist chaplain, that long process of mutual understanding has come to full fruition.

This is, of course, a tribute to the patient diplomacy of Andrew Copson and his team, as well as to the many service personnel who have quietly championed humanist representation from within. But I also take satisfaction in knowing that I helped to bring some of those early connections together. Had I not been in the right place at the right time – and acted with good intentions – this historic moment might not have come about.

As I prepare to attend the dinner in London, I find myself thinking of my late mother, and how proud she would have been to see this day. In her absence, I hope my friends in the humanist community won’t mind if I share a little of that pride with you all.

Notes

• The UK Armed Forces Humanist Association (UKAFHA) was active from around 2009 to 2017, before becoming the Armed Forces Section of Humanists UK.

• The forthcoming dinner hosted by Humanists UK to celebrate Neil Weddell’s appointment is scheduled for Tuesday 4 November 2025 in London.