The Reverend (Group Captain) Nick B P Barry QHC BA RAF

Born in 1961 and spending his formative years living in London, where he attended Westminster City School, the Reverend (Group Captain) Nick Barry read Philosophy at Leicester University where the majority of his time was spent on pursuits other than deep thinking, with particular attention being given to rowing. Following graduation, there followed a year spent in Japan working with an international seafarers charity, The Missions to Seamen.

Upon his return from Japan in 1984, the next 3 years were spent at St Stephen's House, Oxford, a theological college of the Church of England, in preparation for ordination to the Priesthood. Having successfully negotiated the rigours of theological training, he was ordained to the parish of St John's Wood, in London, where he remained until 1990.

In February 1990 he joined the Chaplains' Branch of the Royal Air Force following a chance meeting (at a party) with a serving Air Force Chaplain! Having completed the Specialist Entrant and Re-Entrant course at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, he was posted to RAF Brize Norton just as the crisis in Kuwait/Iraq that led to the first Gulf War began to unfold.

Subsequently he served as a station chaplain at RAF Boulmer, RAF Wildenrath (Germany), RAF Bruggen (Germany), RAF Benson, UKSU Ramstein (Germany) and RAFC Cranwell. During the course of these years he also enjoyed detachments to far-flung places such as the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Sardinia the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Promoted to Reverend (Wing Commander) in 2002, he was immediately posted overseas once more, to become the first Senior Chaplain British Forces Cyprus, based at RAF Akrotiri. In undertaking this role, he became the first RAF chaplain to lead a joint team of both Army and Air Force chaplains. A tour as Staff Chaplain at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood, followed, during which he was responsible for ensuring the provision of all chaplaincy on deployed operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2006 he was posted, as Deputy Director Chaplaincy Operations, to Headquarters Chaplaincy Services (RAF), based at what was then Headquarters Strike Command and is now Headquarters Air Command. From there he deployed on Operation TELIC to Al Udeid in Qatar.

Upon his return, in September 2007, he was promoted to Reverend (Group Captain) and appointed as Director Chaplaincy Strategic Policy and Plans, a post he retained until being appointed as Deputy Chaplain-in-Chief in October 2009. In this role he is responsible for all chaplaincy personnel matters and for the future development strategy of the Chaplains’ Branch.

He was appointed Queen’s Honorary Chaplain in February 2009.

Married to Fliss, an NVQ Assessor, since 1988, they have 2 children – Charlotte and Andrew. His interests include mountain biking, occasional rowing and kayaking, travel and computing.