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The Armenian community of the United Kingdom consists mainly of British citizens who are fully or partially of Armenian descent. 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 and Manchester. The 2001 UK Census recorded 589 Armenian-born people living in the UK,[1] and in 2013, the Office for National Statistics estimated that there were 1,235 people born in Armenia resident in the UK, with the number of Armenian nationals being 1,720,[2] although it has been estimated by the Armenian Diaspora Conference that there are up to 18,000 ethnic Armenians including those who are British-born, and of part Armenian descent, living in the UK.[3]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 18,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh | |
| Languages | |
| Armenian, English, Russian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, French, Greek | |
| Religion | |
| Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church, Armenian Evangelical Church | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Armenian diaspora |
Antonia Gransden (University of Nottingham) writes about the visit to the monastery of St. Albans in 1228 of the Armenian Archbishop, and in 1252 the group of Armenians.[clarification needed][4] The first Armenian community in Britain was formed in Manchester in the 19th century. A mixture of textile traders, small manufacturers and retailers, in 1870 they opened the first Armenian church in Britain (the Holy Trinity Church located in Manchester).[5] In 1896 an estimated 500 Armenians lived in London.[6]
On 19 July 1920, Hovhannes Masehyan was appointed by the Armenian government to serve as "envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary" of Armenia to Britain. However, his appointment was disallowed by the Foreign Office which felt "discomfort and embarrassment" at such a "veteran diplomat" representing an "unstable state" to which Britain had not yet granted de jure recognition. On 12 November 1920, the Foreign Office (and later Lord Curzon) acknowledged the appointment of Jaques Bagratuni as the unofficial representative of Armenia in London.[7]
According to Vered Amit's Armenians in London: The Management of Social Boundaries, published in 1989, around 10,000 Armenians were living in Greater London at the time. The majority were thought to be first-generation immigrants from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Cyprus.[8] They also include Armenians from Ethiopia, India, Egypt and Palestine, as well as individuals from other countries.
Manchester has been home to an Armenian population since 1835, with 30 Armenian businesses thought to have been operating in the city by 1862.[9] Silk merchants were the original Armenian settlers in Manchester. In Easter 1870 Holy Trinity Church, an Armenian church, opened in Manchester, making it the first religious institution of that kind of in Western Europe. The Armenian Ladies Association of Manchester was in existence by the 1920s.[10] In the early 20th century, there were Armenian mercantile communities based in London and Manchester represented by James Malcolm and H. Kamberian—the latter later became the official consul of Armenia in Manchester with the approval of the Foreign Office in October 1920.[7]
The Tekeyan Cultural Union published "Erebuni" from 1979 to 1996. From 1979 to 1987, it was a bilingual Armenian/English monthly, turning into a biweekly from 1987 to 1996. For a brief period in 1993, it was published solely in English before reverting into a bilingual edition. It ceased publication in 1996.[citation needed]
There are three Armenian Apostolic Churches in Britain: Saint Sarkis in Kensington in London; Saint Yeghiche in South Kensington, also in London; and the Holy Trinity in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. The Armenian church of the Holy Trinity was the first purpose-built Armenian church in Western Europe and was opened at Easter 1870. The architects were Royle & Bennett, 1869–70.[11][12] There is also an Armenian Christian Fellowship in Chiswick, West London, a non-denominational evangelical church with services in Armenian, English and Persian.[13] Nearby Chiswick New Cemetery has a significant number of Armenian burials.
Kevork Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School in London operates under the auspices of Armenian Community of UK, providing inclusive education to promote a better knowledge of the Armenian language and culture.[14]
The Armenian Institute cultural centre opened in London in 2001.[15]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2010) |
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