Frank Johnston

William Francis 'Frank' Johnston, (29 June 1930 – 1 September 2023), was an Anglican priest and military chaplain. Between 1980 and 1986, he served as Chaplain-General to the Forces and head of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department, British Army.

Early life and education Johnston was born on 29 June 1930. He was educated at Wesley College, a Methodist private school in Dublin, Ireland. From 1955 to 1959, he served his curacy at St John's Church, Orangefield, County Down in the Diocese of Down and Dromore. He was posted to British Army of the Rhine and served as chaplain of the Garrison Church in Hamelin in Germany from 1962 to 1964. From 1977 to 1980, he was Assistant Chaplain General of the South East District. As the most senior Anglican chaplain in the British Army, he also served as Archdeacon for the Army and therefore was granted the title The Venerable. During his military career, he saw service in the United Kingdom, Germany, Aden, and Cyprus.

Honours On 15 April 1980, Johnston was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC). In the 1983 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).