Historic churches · London
St Sarkis, Kensington
In or near Tyburn.
St Sarkis, Kensington — Armenian Apostolic church in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- High Street Kensington · 0.1 km
- Free entry
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit St Sarkis in Kensington, the nearest railway station is High Street Kensington, located just 0.1 km away. Entry to the church is free, but please note that it is not wheelchair accessible. The postcode for sat-nav is W8 6TP.
About
St Sarkis, Kensington is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Designed by Arthur Joseph Davis. Built in the Armenian architecture style. Constructed primarily of Portland limestone. Heritage designation: Grade II* listed building. Affiliated with Armenian Apostolic Church. Wikidata describes it as: "Armenian Apostolic church in the United Kingdom". Coordinates: 51.4996°, -0.1936°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
St Sarkis Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Սարգիս եկեղեցի) is an Armenian Apostolic church and a Grade II* listed building in Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London. It was constructed in 1922–1923 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.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
St. Sarkis is an Armenian church located in Kensington, London. It serves as a place of worship and community for the Armenian diaspora, hosting various religious services and cultural events throughout the year.
From the Wikipedia article
St Sarkis Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Սարգիս եկեղեցի) is an Armenian Apostolic church and a Grade II* listed building in Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London. It was constructed in 1922–1923 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.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
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.
Architecture
The church follows traditional Armenian church architecture. It is modelled after the freestanding bell tower of Haghpat Monastery, The exterior, similar to the Haghpat bell tower, has three stages/levels. It was built in Portland stone and has a Greek cross plan. The entrance has an English inscription recording its dedication to Gulbenkian's parents "in the Armenian Era 1372". The altarpiece contains a painting of Virgin and Child with gilded relief carving of angels in the gable made by the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts. There are also sculptures of Gulbenkian family members inside the church.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.4996, -0.1936
- District
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Parish
- Kensington and Chelsea, unparished area
- Postcode
- W8 6TP
- Parliamentary constituency
- Kensington and Bayswater
- Phone
- 020 7937 0152
- Nearest railway station
- High Street Kensington — 0.1 km
- Official site
- stsarkislondon.org
Sources
- wikidata: Q13054823 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St Sarkis Church, London (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Saint Sargis Armenian church in London-4.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Where to eat & stay near St Sarkis, Kensington
Places to stay
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📷 5
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London Lodge Hotel
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📷 5Places to eat & drink
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is St Sarkis, Kensington?
- St Sarkis, Kensington is in London, United Kingdom (postcode W8 6TP), in the parish of Kensington and Chelsea, unparished area.
- What is St Sarkis, Kensington?
- St Sarkis, Kensington — Armenian Apostolic church in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to St Sarkis, Kensington?
- The nearest railway station is High Street Kensington, about 0.1 km away. Drivers can use postcode W8 6TP.
- Is St Sarkis, Kensington a listed building?
- St Sarkis, Kensington is officially recognised as Grade II* listed building listed.
- Is St Sarkis, Kensington free to visit?
- Yes, St Sarkis, Kensington is free to enter.
- How do I get to St Sarkis, Kensington?
- The nearest railway station is High Street Kensington, about 0.1 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode W8 6TP.