The Church
The Church was a faith-based military organisation operating in the 51st century and 52nd century. It was responsible for interstellar security, protecting human populations, and special covert operations. Instead of regular military ranks, in the 51st century the Church operated under more religious titles such as Bishop, Cleric and Verger; in the 52nd, it had adopted the rank of Colonel.
Members were organised into different faith/regiments, including the Anglican Regiment and the Headless monks, with a Papal Mainframe (referred to as "her"/"she") in some position of authority. (DW: A Good Man Goes to War)
History
The Church battled against Lava Snakes. (DW: The Time of Angels)
Father Octavian recruited River Song for a covert mission in which she infiltrated the Galaxy class Starliner, Byzantium, which contained a Weeping Angel. She was able to gain the Doctor's attention which led to him rescuing her and accompanying her to Alfava Metraxis, where the Byzantium had crashed. There they met with Octavian's unit. Octavian led his men into the Maze of the Dead below the Byzantium. Christian, Angelo and Bob were soon killed by the Angel. The Doctor assured him they could not have been saved, but Octavian told him that he would be the one to tell their families while the Doctor went off in his blue box. Nonetheless he still told the Doctor he had faith in him when they were surrounded by Angels. (DW: The Time of Angels) A crack in space-time was discovered in the forest of the Byzantium. Although the Doctor, Amy and River were able to survive and send the Weeping Angels falling into the crack. Octavian was killed by a Weeping Angel and the remainder of the Clerics were erased by the crack. (DW: Flesh and Stone)
Since the Doctor negated the cracks, (DW: The Big Bang) the fates of the Clerics and the circumstances of the Angels' defeat is unclear.
On another occasion, a multi-faith force of the Church was part of an operation to capture the infant Melody Pond to use as a weapon against the Doctor: at this point in time, they considered him a threat to humanity. The Doctor was able to neutralise the entire force at their Demons Run base without killing anyone (though he got the Anglicans and the Headless Monks to fight for a brief period). However, this was part of a trap - the Anglicans may not have been aware of it - and the infant remained in their hands. (DW: A Good Man Goes to War)
Members
Anglican Regiment
- Colonel Manton (leader)
- Madame Kovarian (associate)
- Headless monks (honourary allies)
- Cleric Lorna Bucket
- "Thin Man"
- "Fat Man"
