Ray Pentland

Raymond Jackson Pentland, (born 14 July 1957) is a British Church of England priest. He is a retired military chaplain, having served as Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force and head of its Chaplains Branch from 2009 to 2014.

Early life Pentland was born on 14 July 1957 in Greenock, Scotland, to Adam Jackson Pentland and Edith Henderson Pentland. He was educated at Cowdenknowes High School. On 26 August 1991, he was promoted to the relative rank of squadron leader. He transferred from a short service commission to a permanent commission on 1 November 1993. As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to the relative rank of wing commander on 1 January 2003.

Pentland was member of the House of Clergy in the General Synod of the Church of England from 2005 to 2014. On 27 March 2006, he was appointed Principal Anglican Chaplain, Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force and Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC). He was also made an Honorary Canon of Lincoln Cathedral.

Pentland retired in 2014, and was succeeded as Chaplain-in-Chief by Jonathan Chaffey.

Later life Having retired from full-time ministry when he retired from the Royal Air Force in 2014, Pentland held permission to officiate in the Dioceses of Oxford and of London from 2014 to 2019. and later as acting air vice-marshal. From 2015 to 2018, he also served as an honorary assistant curate at St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe and St James Garlickhythe. From 2019 to 2021, he was a non-stipendiary minister at Holy Trinity Church, Aylesbury in the Diocese of Oxford. He has held permission to officiate in the Diocese of Lichfield since 2021,

Personal life In 1979, Pentland married Christine Ann Lyth. They have two children.