The Reverend (Group Captain) Gordon Craig QHC BD Dip Min.
The Rev’d Gordon Craig was born in Glasgow on 16 Sep 59 and was educated at Paisley Grammar School. On leaving school in May 78 he began work with an industrial insulation company as a trainee site manager.
In 1981 following a period of trying to avoid his call to ministry he began training for the ministry of the Church of Scotland at Glasgow University. The Rev’d Craig had always had a strong interest in aviation and the RAF in particular and when he discovered that the Church of Scotland had chaplains working in the RAF he realised that this the area of ministry for him.
The Rev’d Craig left university in 1987, completing his probation in Apr 88. After attending SERE Craig's first posting was as Chaplain at RAF Marham where he served from May 88 until Sep 91 a period which included the first Gulf War, a conflict which cost Marham two Tornados and one crew. He was then posted to RAF St Athan and served there until Dec 93 when he was posted to the Falkland Islands as Force Chaplain. On his return from the Falklands in May 94 he was reunited with the Tornado world with a posting to RAF Lossiemouth. He served at Lossiemouth from May 94 - Nov 96. In Nov 96 Craig received an overseas tour in Germany as the last CSFC Chaplain at RAF Laarbruch. He served at Laarbruch from Nov 96 until its eventual closure in Jul 99 when its Harriers were returned to the UK. Craig arrived at RAFC Cranwell in Aug 99 to take up the post of CSFC Chaplain. In Aug 00 Craig was promoted to the position of College Staff Chaplain Cranwell, a post he held until 2002. From Cranwell Craig was posted as Snr Chap Cosford 02-04. During this period he was deployed as Snr Air Component Chap during the period of the Gulf War. In 04 he was posted to RAF Cottesmore as Snr Chap to the Cottesmore/Wittering Chap Team, a post he held for 2 years which included a number of visits to Afghanistan. In 2006 he was posted to Chap Servs at RAF Innsworth as an additional member of staff to oversee the move of Chap Servs from Innsworth to High Wycombe. He was promoted to Gp Capt before the move took place and was given responsibility for the delivery of effective chaplaincy to the RAF. In 2008 he was appointed as a Honorary Chaplain to the Queen. He became Principal Chaplain (CSFC) on 1 Oct 2009. On the same day the Chaplains’ Branch Management Board was realigned and he was given the post of Assistant Chaplain in Chief Training.
CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assistant Chaplain-in-Chief Training is responsible for the following: ensuring the delivery of Chaplaincy on all 22Gp (Training) units; advising and supporting Unit Commanders within 22Gp on Chaplaincy Issues; setting policies for the delivery of training by Chaplains; ensuring the Beliefs and Values Programme taught by Chaplains meets the required standards; setting policies for and planning, developing and ensuring the delivery of through career and deployed Chaplaincy training; the recruitment of Chaplains.
