The Denomination as a Unit

When the New Zealand system of unit chaplains had been in operation for several years the Department became a team of friends, and it was found possible to encourage denominational loyalty and teaching. Of course, the Roman Catholics were always more of a separate entity than the others. Among several enterprising experiments was a very successful Retreat they organised in the period between the campaigns in Tunisia and Italy. The Retreat lasted for a whole day, from seven in the morning till seven at night, and over four hundred men were present.

At an early date a list of candidates for the Christian Ministry had been prepared and circulated to all chaplains but few of these candidates had much instruction or encouragement in their studies. In 1944 these candidates were put in touch with the nearest chaplain of their own denomination, and they received information on the special study courses organised by the Royal Army Chaplains' Department.