page_title: St Sarkis, Kensington
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: St Sarkis, Kensington / History
caption_attribution_description: Հայերեն: Լոնդոնի Սուրբ Սարգիս հայկական եկեղեցին: Մուտքի վերևի մասում գտնվող արձանագրությունը:English: Saint Sargis Armenian church in London
context_page_description: St Sarkis is an Armenian Apostolic church and a Grade II* listed building in Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London. It was constructed in 1922–23 by Calouste Gulbenkian as a memorial to his parents, and the architect was Arthur Davis. It is the only church in England to have been built in the traditional Armenian style. Its design is inspired by the 13th century freestanding bell tower of Haghpat Monastery. It is the seat of the Diocese of the United Kingdom of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
context_section_description: The construction of the church was funded by Calouste Gulbenkian, an Ottoman-born Armenian oil magnate. He agreed to finance it with the precondition to dedicate it to his parents, Sarkis and Takouhi. Besides being his father's name, Sarkis is also the name of one of Armenia's most celebrated saints—Saint Sarkis the Warrior. The church was designed by Arthur Joseph Davis and built by Holloway Brothers. Its construction began in February 1922 and it was consecrated on 11 January 1923. The church was expanded twice; first in 1937 a baptistery was added to the north side along with a new entrance, and, in 1950, a sacristy was added in the south-east side of the church.
  Catholicos Vazgen I visited the church twice, in 1978 and 1983.
caption: Dedication to Gulbenkian's parents at the entrance of the church.
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