Chaplain-General of Prisons

The Chaplain-General of Prisons is the head of the Church of England's chaplaincy to prisons. He is also an ex officio member of the House of Clergy of the General Synod.

Chaplains-general

Smith was the first chaplain-general.

• 1946-1961 Hugh Smith
• 1962–1980 (res.): Leslie Lloyd Rees
• 1981–1985 (res.): Percy Ashford (first Archdeacon to the Prison Service, 1982–1985)

The post of archdeacon to HM Prisons was created in 1982 and consistently held by the CG.

• 1986–1993 (res.): Keith Pound (also Archdeacon to the Prison Service)
• 1993–2001 (ret.): David Fleming (also Archdeacon of Prisons)
• 2001–2011 (ret.): William 'Nobby' Noblett (also Archdeacon to HM Prisons)
• 2014–2018 (ret.):Mike Kavanagh, Head of Chaplaincy, has been Chaplain-General and Archdeacon since 2013, but was licensed on 13 October 2014.
• October 2018 – present James Ridge