Multi-Cultural Manchester

Armenians

The first Armenians settled in Manchester in 1835 as silk merchants. By 1862, it is estimated that there were thirty Armenian businesses in the city. The Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Manchester was consecrated in 1870. It is the oldest Armenian church in the UK. Joan George 'Merchants in Exile: the Armenians in Manchester, England, 1835-1935' is the definitive book for this community. There is also an article by B. Jenazian entitled 'The Armenian Merchants and Armenian Community in Manchester' (f301.45 Je1). This includes a list of Armenian merchants in Manchester 1838-1964.

In addition, the Greater Manchester County Record Office (with Manchester Archives) holds the records of Simpad Arabian, a shipping merchant (exporter of textiles, mainly to Egypt and Abyssinia). The records include despatch book (section for 1939-47 relates to the firm of Sukassian), order books, out letter books (some in Armenian) and correspondence, and personal papers 1894-1978 (Ref: GB127.M263). There is also a translation of the Constitution of the Armenian Ladies Association (established 1908), and a photocopy of a booklet recording the first twenty-five years of the Association (in Armenian) (Ref: GB127.MISC/835/1-2).

The Genealogical Society of Utah have microfilmed some of the registers of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Manchester and these can be accessed at one of their Family History Centres.