Armenians in the United Kingdom

Armenian Britons

David Dickinson, Calouste Gulbenkian
Regions with significant populations
London, Manchester, Liverpool
Languages
English, Armenian
Religion
Christianity, Armenian Apostolic Church.

Armenian Britons are citizens of the United Kingdom who are of Armenian origin. There has been sporadic emigration from Armenia to the UK since the 18th century, with the biggest influx coming after the Second World War. The majority are based in the major cities of London, Manchester and Liverpool. There has been a lack of census regarding the number of British Armenians in the country, but the Armenia Diaspora Website claims that 18,000 Armenians live in the UK, although it is thought that including illegal immigrants and those of non-immediate Armenian descent could number between 40,000 and 100,000.

History

The first Armenians to arrive in Britain settled in Manchester in the 19th century. A mixture of textile traders, small manufacturers and retailers, in 1870 they built the first Armenian church in Britain. Today, there are an estimated 18,000 Armenians in Britain, concentrated mainly in London. Apart from St Sarkis, the capital’s Armenians also worship in nearby St Yeghiche, a former Anglican church.

Religion

Most British Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic faithand are under the jurisdiction of the See of Holy Echmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church

The principal church is the St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church (Kensington, London). There are St Yeghishé Armenian Apostolic Church (on Gloucester Road, London) and the Holy Trinity (Sourp Yerrortoutyoun) Armenian Apostolic Church of Manchester.

There are also a small number of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals.

List of notable British-Armenians

• Levon Chilingirian OBE, musician
• Professor Lord Ara Darzi KBE, surgeon and first British-Armenian peer
• David Dickinson, antiques expert and Television presenter
• Calouste Gulbenkian, one of the founders of Royal Dutch Shell and oil magnate
• Natasha Shishmanian, Golf professional, journalist, writer and wife of Chris Evans
• Roland Manookian, actor, major role in the Football Factory by Nick Love
• Bob Manoukian, businessman
• Alexander Raphael, first person of Armenian descent to become a member of the House of Commons
• Aram Shishmanian, non-executive director of Resolution plc and board member of Britannic Group
• Hag Simonian, correspondent of Financial Times
• Dikran Tahta, mathematician and teacher
• Paul Kassabian- Deputy project manager of Gateshead Millennium Bridge at Watson Steel Plc
• Anahid Kassabian- Professor of music at University of Liverpool
• Ervant Abrahamian- former professor of Middle East history at Oxford University
• Bernard Andonian- Immigration Judge, one of the top immigration lawyers
• Paul Gulbenkian- Immigration Judge, one of the top lawyers
• Barbara Sahakian- Professor of psychology at Cambridge University
• Robert Istepanian- Professor of Data Communication at Kingston University
• Revd Dr V.N. Nersessian- Curator, The British Library
• Joe Strummer-Musician

See also

• List of Armenian-Americans
• List of Armenian-Russians
• List of French-Armenians
• List of Armenians
• Armenian Diaspora

External links

• Armenian Community and Church Council of Great Britain
• Centre for Armenian Information and Advice