Tributes have been paid to the Navy’s former most senior chaplain who has died at the age of 57. The Venerable Martyn Gough, who was born in Aberdare and served in the Diocese of Llandaff, served the Navy and nation for nearly a quarter of a century.
His extensive service at home and aboard, saw him deployed to Afghanistan as well as carry out day-to-day work in frigates, survey vessels and carriers.
His successor as Chaplain of the Fleet, the Venerable Andrew Hillier, said: "A proud Welshman, he was wonderfully affable individual with a great sense of fun. As a priest, he was an enormously faithful and committed man. As a chaplain, he loved nothing better that to be surrounded by sailors and was truly a friend and advisor to all on board."
The Ven Gough was born in April 1966 in Aberdare, and was educated at Aberdare High School, an all-boys grammar school. He later studied at the University of Wales, Cardiff, graduating with a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree in 1987. From 1988 to 1990, he trained for ordination at St Stephen's House, Oxford.
After ordination in the Diocese of Llandaff, he served in parishes in south Wales - including curacies at St Theodore's Church, Port Talbot from 1990 to 1992 and at St Margaret's Church, Roath, Cardiff, from 1992 to 1994. In 1995, he moved to the Diocese of Gibraltar and served as an assistant chaplain in Milan.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1998 and his early ministry was spent at HMNB Devonport where he deployed with the base's Type 22 frigate flotilla. He was also 'bish' – as chaplains are affectionately known across the Royal Navy – aboard aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and served as Chaplain to the Hydrographic Squadron.
In 2013-14 he was appointed as the Forces' senior chaplain in Afghanistan before returning to the UK first as Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet and, from August 2018, Chaplain of the Fleet and Archdeacon for the Royal Navy. That same year he was also appointed a Queen’s Honorary Chaplain.
Following his retirement from the Royal Navy in 2021, Gough held permission to officiate in the Diocese of Salisbury. He also became the National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion, and officiated at the Festival of Remembrance held at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 November 2021.
Away from the Royal Navy, the father-of-two enjoyed art, literature, skiing and especially renovating his home in Wiltshire’s Chalk Valley with his wife Amanda. Although he left the Navy in 2021, he continued to champion the Services as National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion, officiating at that year's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Rev Scott Brown, the convener of the Church of Scotland’s Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces, and Chaplain of the Fleet between 2010 and 2014, added: "Martyn was a faithful priest, pastor and friend. He was always supportive of the Church of Scotland and we will miss his support, wisdom and friendship. We remember Amanda, his wife, and their children in our prayers."
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