St Sarkis Church, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Sarkis Church |
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| 51°29′59″N 0°11′37″W / 51.49963°N 0.19365°W | |
| Location | Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Arthur Davis |
| Years built | 1922–1923 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain |
St Sarkis Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Սարգիս եկեղեցի) is a special church in Kensington, London. It belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is a very old Christian church. This building is also a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a very important historical place.
The church was built between 1922 and 1923. A wealthy man named Calouste Gulbenkian paid for it. He wanted it to be a memorial to his parents. The architect who designed it was Arthur Davis. St Sarkis Church is unique because it's the only church in England built in the traditional Armenian style. Its design was inspired by a 13th-century bell tower from Haghpat Monastery in Armenia. Today, it is the main church for the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United Kingdom.
History of St Sarkis Church
The money for building St Sarkis Church came from Calouste Gulbenkian. He was a very successful businessman from Armenia who worked in the oil industry. He agreed to pay for the church if it was dedicated to his parents, Sarkis and Takouhi. The church was named after his father, Sarkis. Sarkis is also the name of a famous Armenian saint, Saint Sarkis the Warrior.
The church was designed by Arthur Joseph Davis. It was built by a company called Holloway Brothers. Construction started in February 1922. The church was officially opened on January 11, 1923. Over the years, the church was made bigger twice. In 1937, a baptistery (a place for baptisms) and a new entrance were added. In 1950, a sacristy (a room where priests prepare) was built on the south-east side.
Important leaders of the Armenian Church have visited St Sarkis. For example, Catholicos Vazgen I, a very high-ranking leader, visited the church in 1978 and again in 1983.
Architecture and Design
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St Sarkis Church is a great example of traditional Armenian church architecture. Its design is based on the freestanding bell tower of Haghpat Monastery in Armenia, which was built in 1245. Like the Haghpat bell tower, the outside of St Sarkis Church has three main levels.
The Economist magazine once called the church an "exotic eastern edifice." This means it looked unusual and interesting, like something from the East. The church was built using Portland stone, a type of limestone. It has a Greek cross plan, meaning its shape from above looks like a cross with four arms of equal length.
Above the entrance, there is an English message. It says the church was dedicated to Gulbenkian's parents in the "Armenian Era 1372." The main altar inside has a painting of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. There are also beautiful gilded (gold-colored) carvings of angels. These were made by a group called the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts. You can also find sculptures of members of the Gulbenkian family inside the church.
Heritage Status
St Sarkis Church was officially recognized as a Grade II* building on January 16, 1981. This special status means it is considered a "particularly important building of more than special interest." It is protected because of its historical and architectural value.
