The Diocese of Oxford has publicly affirmed its support to members of the Armed Forces community across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire by signing the Armed Forces Covenant during a service at Christ Church Cathedral this week.
The Diocese includes one of the largest Armed Forces communities in the country, including the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.
The covenant was signed by the Bishop of Oxford, The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, alongside major general Peter Rowell and the Very Revd Prof Sarah Foot.
Established through the Armed Forces Act 2011, the Armed Forces Covenant recognises the duty of care owed by society to those who serve, and who may place themselves in harm’s way, as well as to their families.
For the Diocese of Oxford, the signing is intended as both a public declaration of support and a recognition of the thousands of people across the region whose lives are connected to military service.
Figures from the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for the South East also suggest the Diocese is home to around: 1,000 reservists, 5,000 cadets, and more than 70,000 veterans
The covenant recognises not only serving personnel, but also spouses, children, veterans, civilians working within military establishments and the wider families who share in the realities of service life.
Following the signing, Bishop Steven said: “As a diocese we are keen to support the service communities across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, and their families.
“Today’s signing marks a significant step in formalising our commitment to do this and is a recognition of all that our armed forces give through their dedication and service.”
The decision to sign the covenant followed a motion passed overwhelmingly by Diocesan Synod in autumn 2025. During a debate at the Synod members spoke of the importance of recognising the sacrifices, pressures and trauma often experienced not only by service personnel, but also by emergency services workers and military families.
Archdeacon of Oxford, The Venerable Jonathan Chaffey, who was previously Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force said: “The Diocese has one of the largest Armed Forces communities of any diocese and we are very much committed to welcoming, supporting and praying for it. We have many thousands of serving personnel, civilians working at military establishments, veterans and families. This includes children in our schools, spouses and parents of Service personnel working for the Diocese and a growing interest in military chaplaincy (both Reserve and Regular) amongst our clergy.”
At the heart of the covenant is a commitment to ensuring that those who serve are treated fairly and supported well, including during deployments, transitions to civilian life, and in the wellbeing and education of their children.
For the Diocese, the covenant also reflects the Church’s pastoral and spiritual role in supporting military communities through chaplaincy, prayer, worship and local community life.
The signing symbolises an ongoing partnership between the Armed Forces and churches across the Diocese.
It recognises both the sacrifices made in service and the dignity and value of every person who serves.
