Scott Brown

Scott James Brown, (born 16 May 1968) is a Scottish Anglican priest and former Royal Navy chaplain. From 2010 to 2014, he served as Chaplain of the Fleet and was therefore the senior military chaplain in the Royal Navy. After a career as a Church of Scotland minister, he was ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church in 2026.

Early life Scott was born in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on 16 May 1968, the son of Margaret and Jim Brown of Hamilton. Educated at Hamilton Grammar School and Bell College of Technology. He graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1992.

Career Following graduation, Brown underwent an assistantship at St Andrew's West, Falkirk, from 1992 to 1993. He was ordained by the Church of Scotland in 1993 by the Presbytery of Hamilton.

Military career Brown joined the Royal Navy in April 1993 and served in the ships of the Commodore Minewarfare, Fishery Protection and Diving, , HMS Neptune, and . He then served on exchange with the Royal Australian Navy and then in , , and . He then served with the Command Training Group, and was Staff Chaplain to the Chaplain of the Fleet. From 1999 to 2000, he served as Chaplain to the Very Reverend Dr John Cairns during his term as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He was appointed at the same time to be an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC). and accorded the equivalent rank of a Rear Admiral. He retired in January 2015.

Later career Brown was inducted to the parishes of Buchlyvie and Gartmore in March 2019, returning to parish ministry after 26 years as a chaplain. He was demitted in September 2023.

Brown was appointed as National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion in October 2023. He resigned in 2025 due to ill health.

Brown joined the Scottish Episcopal Church, and was ordained as a deacon on 28 June 2026 Bishop Ian Paton, the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.

Personal life Brown married Colin Fleming in 2006. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.