Royal Army Chaplains' Museum
Free museum at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham telling the story of British Army chaplaincy, open on weekday afternoons.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Royal Army Chaplains' Museum records the work of British Army chaplains from earliest times to the present day, under the theme "Faith in the Forces". It looks at chaplains in peacetime, under fire and in captivity, and at how religion and belief fit into military life. The museum belongs to the heritage of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department and is run as a registered charity.
The collection was first kept at Bagshot Park in Surrey. In 2001 it moved to a converted stable block at Amport House in Hampshire, then the home of the Chaplains' Department. When the Ministry of Defence sold Amport House in 2020, the museum had to find a new home.
It now occupies a new, energy-efficient building designed by Hewitt Studios of Bath at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, which was opened on 17 May 2022 by the Countess of Wessex. The archive includes material on the four chaplains who won the Victoria Cross, and the museum also holds records of the Royal Army Temperance Association and of the Churches' Work for Women in the Forces.
Highlights
- British Army chaplaincy from earliest times to today
- Material on the four chaplains awarded the Victoria Cross
- Purpose-built museum building opened in 2022
- Free explorer trails and Museum Passport for families
- Archive of the Royal Army Temperance Association
Permanent exhibition
- Faith in the Forces – Permanent displays on the history of British Army chaplaincy, from earliest times to the present day.
- Operated by
- Royal Army Chaplains' Museum (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|
Admission is free for the public and for military personnel. Donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs, with no steps and a flat bridge, and a small ridge on the pavement. Benches are placed in several places. Two areas have motion-activated sound, and staff can say where they are. Assistance animals, including dogs in training, are welcome and should stay on a lead and wear their tabard or harness.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
Family events run during every school holiday and half term. Free explorer trails and a free Museum Passport with stamps are available from the front desk. Breastfeeding is welcome and there is buggy parking.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Watchfield, Military Science
The nearest railway station is Swindon. Stagecoach bus S6 (Swindon, Faringdon and Oxford) stops at the museum (stop Watchfield, Military Science), 19 stops from Swindon bus station.
By car
Free parking
Free car park on the left beyond the gate lodge, with two disabled spaces a short distance from the museum.
- Accessible parking
Enter through the gates on Faringdon Road. The museum is the second building on the right, beyond the gate lodge.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Two toilets, both accessible. Coat hooks and baby changing are available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Schools and other groups are welcome during or outside normal opening hours and can book by email. Two downloadable gallery trails are available, one on world faiths and one on what an army chaplain does. Visitors should enter through the gates on Faringdon Road and not drive up to the Defence Academy security gate. |
