Armenian Christian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Armenia adopted Christianity in 301 AD, and the Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. Its cathedral at Etchmiadzin is among the oldest cathedrals anywhere. Armenian Christians in Birmingham include families from Armenia and from the diaspora in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and beyond.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 79 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Armenian. Most Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the census does not publish a Birmingham breakdown of Armenians by religion.

Working for Birmingham

Armenian Christians in Birmingham work in medicine, engineering, music, business, jewellery and education. The community is known for its craftsmanship and its strong commitment to education, and its members contribute across the city's professions.

The city's future rests on the same things as its past: skills, enterprise and people willing to put in the hours. Whether in a hospital, a classroom, a lecture theatre, a van full of tools or a shop on a busy high street, Armenian Christian residents are helping to build that future, and to make Birmingham a stronger, fairer and more welcoming city.

Culture and community life

Christmas is celebrated on 6 January, together with the Epiphany, and Easter is the most important festival of the year. Khachkars, carved stone crosses, are a unique Armenian art form recognised by UNESCO, and church music and the haunting duduk are treasured.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Armenian Christian community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.