Armenian Church of Chennai, Tamil Nadu: A vestige of past Armenian traders in India - well preserved

Navrang India April 25, 2025

Armenian church, Chennai, TN history.ucla.edu

In the  late colonial period, the Armenians from West Asia and the Armenia region (present day Turkey, Iran regions) made a good contribution to the growth of trade in Madras,  the capital of then Madras Presidency.   In these places Christianity was spread here by the apostles of Jesus St. Thaddew & St. Bartholomew. Armenia  was the first ever country to declare Christianity as state religion in the year 301 AD, followed by Ethiopia in 324. Only after these 2 countries, Vatican declared Christianity as state religion. Followers of Armenian Christianity later on spread all over the world and that includes India when it was under the British rule. During the heyday  when the East India Company  was busy with mercantile trading activities,  lots of Europeans moved into Madras to try their luck in business. So were  the  Armenians  and later Jews  for trade in that city.  A select group of  adventurous Armenian settlers from Armenia, Persia, etc.,  with their target on Madra, came there  on foot through difficult Hindukush mountains, thus taking a n arduous journey to make a living in Madras. risking their lives.  The focus of      Armenian trader were   on   fine silk, expensive spices and gems, whereas the British were controlling cotton cloth. 
Armenian church, Chennai,travel.bhushavali.com  


The Athenians  formed a successful  community and as their population was on the increase, obviously they needed   a Church to meet their spiritual need aspirations. Ultimately, they had a church built in George Town in Chennai (Madras)  close to the harbor and to Ft. St. George, the seat of power.    The church came up in 1711-1712., believed to be one of the oldest in the Indian subcontinent.   

Armenian church, Chennai, TN .thehindu.com

In 1746, the church was pulled down during the brief   French occupation. The French forces with  settlement in Pondicherry south of madras were competitive in the mercantile  trade and were on the land expansion mode.      

    The British were using  St Mary's with in the fort area  with 130 seat following Orthodox tradition, plus a choir in its gallery. So, initially, it is a small church catering to the Armenian community as well.

The Armenian church is a beautiful, not so big church with a belfry on the Armenian church, George Town.   It is not visible to the public  and  is obscured by an array of buildings  and  chaotic traffic, The Armenian Street  once a vibrant busy business quarter is also  a busy street now, jam-packed with vehicular traffic. 
 Belfry. Armenian church,TN Chennayometro.com

Bells of the Armenian Church in Madras.  en.wikipedia.org/

Armenian church, Chennai travel.bhushavali.com

Armenian Church .Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music - WordPress.com

Armenian church being non-functional is declared as a heritage site the indian government.  It is  open  from  9 am to  2 pm   to visitors.  Services are still held here four to six times a year, when a priest visits with a group of Armenians from Calcutta, where  140 Armenians form a small, but vibrant group trying to maintain their vestiges. The Armenian Apostolic Church is funding and maintaining the church under the  The Armenian Church Committee in Calcutta.  Though this old church built by the Armenians of past era lies frozen with  a 311 year old history behind it, way back on 6th january 2023, a small community of  Armenian celebrated the Christmas with joy greeted by the local community..The tolling of church bell was part of this area in George town.

 The Belfry adjacent to the main Church building houses six large bells which are rung every Sunday at 9:30 am by the caretaker to remind us that the old historical church is being taken care of regularly,  despite lack of church services and prayers. The bells in the belfry  are all of different sizes, varying from 21 to 26 inches, and weigh around 150 kg each,

The church has a graveyard  with  graves of about 350 Armenians here. The founder, publisher and editor of the world's first Armenian periodical "Azdarar", Rev. Haroutiun Shmavonian's mortal remains are in the grave. The Armenian population after India's independence declined drastically to a tickle. The last ones left Chennai in 2004 and presently the church is being taken care of by one Michel Stephen who, besides keeping the church well, I understand, is showcasing the legacy of past Armenian traders of Madras.

The proud possession of this church is  a massive Bible, printed in 1686, in fine Armenian script with woodcut prints, which is used on certain occasions, according to the Church keeper Michael Stephen. The stepped wooden altar is  inlaid with rare  and fine oval paintings depicting various events from  the life of Christ, surmounted by a painting of the Assumption.