Brief History from 1900 - 1980
The Armenian Church parish of New Britain was founded in 1900. For the first quarter century, services were held in St. Mark Episcopal Church on West Main Street. The growth of the Armenian community led to the formation of a building committee and the building and consecration of St. Stephen Armenian Church on Tremont Street in 1925.
Due to the schism within the Armenian church, the community divided into two groups with different allegiances. In 1940, the Parish Council purchased the Ukrainian Hall on Erwin Place and it was consecrated as the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection on March 19, 1941, by His Eminence Archbishop Karekin Hovsepiantz.
For 39 years, this location met the needs of our community. In September of 1969, the site of the current church on Stanley Street was purchased. In December of 1977, the City of New Britain approved the purchase of the Erwin Place property for neighborhood development. A fundraising committee began its work while the Diocesan and local boards reviewed plans.
The final design was settled on November 12, 1978 and the building lot was staked out over Thanksgiving weekend. The official groundbreaking took place on April 1, 1979 with His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian presiding.
Construction proceeded through 1980 with many parishioners spending hours clearing trees, painting walls and hammering floorboards. On September 28, 1980, the consecration of the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection took place.
We remember and thank those who faithfully have served and are serving our parish.
We look with great optimism as we prepare to pass the torch to our future generations.
Due to the schism within the Armenian church, the community divided into two groups with different allegiances. In 1940, the Parish Council purchased the Ukrainian Hall on Erwin Place and it was consecrated as the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection on March 19, 1941, by His Eminence Archbishop Karekin Hovsepiantz.
For 39 years, this location met the needs of our community. In September of 1969, the site of the current church on Stanley Street was purchased. In December of 1977, the City of New Britain approved the purchase of the Erwin Place property for neighborhood development. A fundraising committee began its work while the Diocesan and local boards reviewed plans.
The final design was settled on November 12, 1978 and the building lot was staked out over Thanksgiving weekend. The official groundbreaking took place on April 1, 1979 with His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian presiding.
Construction proceeded through 1980 with many parishioners spending hours clearing trees, painting walls and hammering floorboards. On September 28, 1980, the consecration of the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection took place.
We remember and thank those who faithfully have served and are serving our parish.
We look with great optimism as we prepare to pass the torch to our future generations.