BIBLIOASIA OCT – DEC 2017 Vol. 13 / Issue 03 / Feature

Dr Nadia Wright is a retired teacher and now In February 1821, an Armenian seeing that it would encourage these Galastaun and his peers must have active historian who lives in Melbourne. She delegation met the British Governor hardworking and peace-loving people envisaged a much larger Armenian specialises in Singapore’s colonial history of Penang, William Phillips, who asked to settle in Penang. community settling in Penang when and the Armenian community in Southeast for a plan and an estimate of costs. The Armenian merchant Catcha- they pressed for a church. But this, Asia and Australia. She has written books The sum needed was $7,000. Arme- toor Galastaun not only made good the unfortunately, did not materialise: and scholarly articles on Armenians, nian philanthropist Carapiet Arrackell shortfall, but additionally purchased Armenian numbers in Penang never Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, and the roles of Stamford Raffles bequeathed $2,000 of this amount, and a plot of land in September 1821 surpassed more than 30. The success A TALE and William Farquhar in Singapore’s history. the community raised another $2,000. at Bishop Street between Penang of rival Singapore spelled the end of the As they were short of $3,000, the Arme- Street and King Street. Construction Penang church. After Singapore became nians petitioned Governor Phillips for of the church commenced under the the capital of the Straits Settlements in of a donation in 1822. supervision of British merchant and 1832 and surged ahead as its commer- Phillips was of the view that hard- shipwright, Richard Snadden, and, in cial centre, there was little incentive for TWO working Christian people would be an 1822, Bishop Abraham of Jerusalem Armenian entrepreneurs to sink their In Penang, the Armenian Apostolic asset to the colony and to encourage officiated the laying of the foundation roots in Penang. The community shrank Church of St Gregory the Illuminator was more Armenians to settle in Penang, stone. In May 1824, the community as members left, and the remaining few consecrated in 1824; nearly 12 years later he donated $500 on behalf of the EIC, bought the neighbouring site that had struggled to support the church. in Singapore, another church bearing the while recognising that this amount housed the government dispensary, Despite Penang’s tiny Armenian isame name was consecrated. was much less than what the Arme- thus enlarging the church compound congregation, priests were sent out from CHURCHES The futures of these two churches nians were anticipating. Indeed, this and providing space to build lodgings Persia approximately every three years could not have been more different: while was a paltry sum compared with the for the priest. until 1885. After that, church services Penang’s Armenian church was demolished the Penang church was demolished in $60,000 the EIC had donated towards On 4 November 1824, the church was were held only when a priest visited 1909, the Singapore church continues to the building of the Anglican St George’s consecrated in a service led by Bishop Penang. The last was conducted in 1906 in the early 1900s while the one in Singapore exist to this day as the focal point for a Church in Penang. The directors of Jacob of Jerusalem and assisted by Rev- by Archbishop Sahak Ayvatian from the still thrives. Nadia Wright looks at the vastly small but thriving Armenian community, the EIC readily approved the donation erend Iliazor Ingergolie, Penang’s first Mother church in Isfahan. On his visit, besides being a tourist attraction. fulltime Armenian priest. The church Archbishop Ayvatian discussed the different fates of these two churches. was officially named the Armenian future of the deteriorating church build- (Facing page) A postcard featuring the Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illu- ing with key members of the Armenian The Armenian Church in Penang Commemorative Monument in Penang, c.1909. (Below) A painting of the Armenian Church in minator. The local press described the community. Whatever their decision, the Around 301 AD, Armenia became the first Singapore by John Turnbull Thomson, 1847. This church as the project of a “public spirited church’s fate was sealed in Februa­ry country in the world to adopt Christian- view shows the original chancel and the second individual” (in reference to Galastaun), 1909 when decaying beams caused the ity as the state religion after the apostle turret. All rights reserved, Hall-Jones, J. (1983). proclaiming it to be “one of the best collapse of a major balustrade, and large The Thomson Paintings: Mid-nineteenth Century Gregory converted its king, Tirdates III. Paintings of the Straits Settlements and Malaya proportioned and most elegant” buildings sections of the walls caved in. There was This would cause much strife in later (p. 43). Singapore: Oxford University Press. (Call in Penang, adding that it “reflects much no option but to raze the building, retain- years as Armenia stood between two no.: RSING 759.2 THO) credit on the Armenian population”.2 ing only the churchyard and parsonage.3 great Muslim powers: Persia and the Ottoman Empire. In the early 16th cen- tury, in his war against the Ottomans, the Persian king Shah Abbas razed the Armenian city of Julfa and deported some 25,000 Armenians to Persia (present-day Iran), mainly to his new capital Isfahan. He resettled most of the Armenians in an area that became known as New Julfa. It was the descendants of these Persian Armenians, renowned for their acumen as merchants, who subsequently settled in India and later, Java, Penang and Singapore.1 As religion was integral to their lives, these diasporic merchants built churches in their new settlements as soon as they had the means. Penang and Singapore were no exception. In 1786, Francis Light acquired the island of Penang from the Sultan of Kedah on behalf of the British East India Company (EIC) and established the settlement of George Town. The colony soon developed into a bustling entrepôt and attracted Armenian merchants from India and Java. Initially, these Armenians used the ser- vices of the Catholic and Anglican clergy for worship; however, as their numbers increased, they felt the need to have a church of their own.

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As a memorial to the church, Arme- The Armenian Church in Singapore “This small but elegant building does nians Joseph Anthony and Arshak Sarkies great credit to the public spirit and commissioned German architect Henry The fate of the Armenian church in Singa- religious feeling of the Armenians Neubronner to design a commemorative pore took a different trajectory altogether. of this settlement; for we believe monument that was erected in 1909.4 Within a year of the establishment of a trad- that few instances could be shown Over the years, the monument as well ing post in Singapore in 1819 by Stamford where so small a community have as the garden surrounding it and the Raffles, Armenians began arriving. Initially, contributed funds sufficient for the tombstones in the graveyard became Reverend Iliazor Ingergolie travelled from erection of a similar edifice”.13 neglected, leading the press to report Penang to conduct services for the Arme- that this made a mockery of those who nian community in Singapore. But after Indeed, the church relied on a very had erected the memorial. the community grew to around 20 in 1825, small community (which never numbered In the late-1930s, the trustees of St the Armenians wrote to the Archbishop in more than 100 at its peak) to maintain it, Gregory’s Church in Singapore sold the site, Persia asking that a priest be sent to serve as well as pay for the services of a priest. on the instructions of the Mother church in their spiritual needs. In 1827, Reverend The burden of supporting the church was Persia, and the monument was demolished. Gregory Ter Johannes arrived in Singapore. one continuously faced by the Armenians In August 1937, the 20 Armenians buried in At first, Reverend Ter Johannes con- (Above) Arshak Sarkies (pictured here), along with Jo- in Penang and Singapore. In Penang, the the churchyard were re-interred in Western ducted services in the premises of an Arme- seph Anthony, commissioned German architect Henry Anthony family supported the priest for Road Cemetery (Penang’s municipal cem- nian merchant named Isaiah Zechariah, but Neubronner to design a commemorative monument many years, while in Singapore in the etery at the time) in a service conducted by soon, as in Penang, the community wanted for the Armenian Church in Penang. The monument 1930s, that task was taken on by Mrs 5 was erected in 1909. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Reverend Shamaian from Singapore. The its own church. In March 1833, Zechariah (Below) View of Government Hill, the English Burial Mary Anne Martin. money received from the sale of the church began petitioning Samuel Bonham, the In the 1840s and in 1853, the Singa- Ground and the Armenian Church in Singapore, The Armenian Church in Singapore as it looks today with major alterations made around 1853 by George land was invested in the Catchatoor Galas- Resident Councillor in Singapore, for a grant in 1840. This view shows the original dome of the pore community raised money for major Maddock – the new steeple, new east portico and the flat roof.Courtesy of the Armenian Church. taun Memorial Fund and managed by the of land. Eventually a suitable site was agreed church with the gold cross on top and the pitched modifications to the roof and dome. Over church trustees in Singapore. The church’s upon at the foot of Fort Canning. This land roof. Courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore, the years, generous individuals further National Heritage Board. silverware and its foundation plaque dated had earlier been granted to Dr Nathaniel contributed to improvements and addi- Armenian cleric would conduct a special media and postage stamps released in 1822 were given to the Armenian church Wallich to establish an experimental botani- tions. For example, in 1861, Peter Seth service for the community. Singapore (1978) and Armenia (1999). in Singapore.6 cal garden, but this particular site facing Hill sioned to design the church and oversee donated the bell in the steeple, although By 1970, the congregation had dimin- After the 1990s, the size of the con- Unfortunately, no image of the Street was left unused.9 its construction. Work commenced at a this was not hung until the 1880s. In that ished to about 10 people and the church gregation further increased as Armenians, Armenian church in Penang has been Bonham sent the request for land rapid pace. The foundation ceremony was same decade, Catchick Moses paid for was in dire need of repair. The government especially from Armenia and Russia, began found even though the building survived along the bureaucratic path to Thomas conducted on 1 January 1835 by the Very the back porch and a new fence around decided that the church was worth preserv- to settle in Singapore. In 2016, the church until 1909. Presumably it displayed all Church, the Acting Governor in Penang, Reverend Thomas Gregorian who travelled the compound. ing and gazetted it as a National Monument trustees arranged for a priest to regularly the customary features of an Armenian who then forwarded it to the government from Isfahan for the occasion, and the local As in Penang, the priest lived in a in June 1973, thus securing its future. visit from Calcutta to conduct services. church – built of stone, with a vaulted in Calcutta (Kolkata), hoping it would be priest Reverend Johannes Catchick. parsonage within the church grounds. Augmenting this sense of permanence The church also organises cultural events ceiling, a dome and an east-facing chancel approved as the Armenians were “pecu- The total cost of the construction, as The original small building paid for by was the arrival of Armenian expatriates and has continued the practice of allowing − as does the one in Singapore.7 Refer- liarly docile and diligent and in every well as accessories and regalia for the priest, Simon Stephens was replaced in 1905 from America and Europe from the 1980s weddings to be celebrated in its premises ences to the church building are scarce. respect desirable colonists”.10 In July amounted to $5,058.30. While the Penang by a splendid Edwardian edifice commis- onwards who were posted to Singapore for for a donation. All these activities, plus a Writing in 1839, Thomas Newbold com- 1834, approval for the land was granted; church benefited from two wealthy donors, sioned by Mrs Anna Sarkies in memory work. Breathing new life to the small and steady flow of tourists, ensure that the mented that the Armenian chapel was the welcome news reaching Singapore in Singapore was not so fortunate. A public of her husband, John Shanazar Sarkies. ageing Persian Armenian community, these church maintains a high public profile. one of the principal buildings in George September, whereupon the Armenians subscription was launched and, by mid-1836, The church, parsonage and newcomers took an active interest in the Unlike Penang’s Armenian church Town, while James Low described it as sprang into action. some $3,120 had been donated, mostly by grounds were damaged during World church. The church was spruced up for its which has disappeared from living “handsome”.8 Today, not even a marker The leading British architect of the local Armenians. This left a shortfall of nearly War II when the British military occupied 150th anniversary in 1986, and Archbishop memory, its counterpart in Singapore indicates where this church once stood. time, George D. Coleman was commis- $2,000 as well as the further $600 that was the premises. After the war, the church Baliozian from Sydney and Armenians from is a national monument and tourist required to build a parsonage. trustees requested compensation to the region took part in the celebration. icon. More importantly, it remains the The paucity of donations from non- pay for repairs, but in the end the War Over the years, the church has remained functioning church of one of Singapore’s Armenians led to a sharp rebuke from The Damages Commission paid only part of in the public eye through articles in the smallest minorities. Singapore Chronicle newspaper, which the claim. In the meantime, the church had hoped that the meagre $370 donated and parsonage deteriorated further. 7 HyeEtch. (1999, August 30). Formation of a national by the Europeans and others would be Local and visiting Armenians did their Notes style. Retrieved from Hye Etch Arts & Culture website. 1 The Persian Armenians modified and shortened their supplemented; after all, Armenians had best to raise funds for renovations, 8 Newbold, T. J. (1839). Political and statistical account names to sound more British, and most of them dropped of the British settlements in the Straits of Malacca generously donated when the call was their efforts augmented by generous the original “ian” ending. This resulted in surnames such (vol. 1) (p. 49). London: John Murray. Retrieved from made to raise funds to build St Andrew’s donations from the Martin family and as Anthony, Gregory, Martin and Stephens. BookSG; Low, J. (1836). A dissertation on the soil & Cathedral.11 But the plea largely fell on deaf from church funds. 2 Prince of Wales Island Gazette, 6 November 1824. agriculture of the British settlement of Penang, or 3 Untitled. (1909, February 8). The Singapore Free Press and ears. Fortunately, the 12 or so local Arme- The last full service by a resident Prince of Wales island, in the Straits of Malacca (p. Mercantile Advertiser, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. 315). Singapore: Printed at the Singapore Free Press nian families managed to raise the money, priest was held in 1938, although services 4 Khoo, S. N. (2006). More than merchants: A history Office. Retrieved from BookSG. 12 and also promised to cover ongoing costs. were led by a deacon until the onset of of the German-speaking community in Penang 9 Dr Nathaniel Wallich (1786–1854) was responsible On 26 March 1836, the church was the war in 1942. After the war ended, 1800s–1940s (p. 80). Pulau Pinang: Areca Books. (Call for establishing Singapore’s botanic gardens at Fort consecrated and dedicated to St Gregory, arrangements were made for priests to no.: RSEA 305.73105951 KHO) Canning. 5 Unlike in Penang, and unique to Singapore, no sharing the same name as the Penang fly over from Australia, but these visits 10 Thomas Church to the Secretary to Government, Armenians were buried under the church aisle or Fort William 17 June 1834, R. 2, Straits Settlements church – the Armenian Apostolic Church of became more infrequent as the Armenian the church grounds. Most of the tombstones laid Records. St Gregory the Illuminator. The Singapore community shrank over the years. This out in the Garden of Memories were rescued from 11 Singapore. (1835, March 7). Singapore Chronicle and Free Press declared it as one of Coleman’s did not mean the church lay idle. Since former cemeteries. Commercial Register. 6 The presence of the plaque at the Armenian Church “most ornate and best finished pieces 1946, other Christian denominations have 12 Translation of Minutes by the late Arshak Galstaun. in Singapore later led to a mistaken belief that it 13 Armenian Church. (1836, March 17). The Singapore of architecture.” The paper reported in been allowed to worship at the Armenian belonged to an earlier Armenian church there which Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, p. 3. Retrieved glowing terms: church, while occasionally a visiting had been demolished. from NewspaperSG.

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