Armenian Church (A National Monument)
60 Hill Street
Owned by the Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illuminator Trust



The Armenian Church is the oldest Christian church in Singapore and was designed by George Drumgoole Coleman, Singapore’s overseer of Convicts and Superintendent of Public Works and built between 1834-36. An Indian contractor undertook the construction work. The design of the church is believed to be based on the mother church at Echmiadzin in Northern Armenia which was also dedicated to St Gregory.

The church was built from the funds raised from Armenians in Calcutta, Java and Singapore, as well as European residents and Armenians passing by Singapore. In July 1827, Reverend Gregory Johannes (sent by the Armenian Archbishop of Persia and India) came to Singapore. The completed church was consecrated on 26th March 1836 as it was the anniversary of St. Gregory, the first monk of the Armenian Church, to whom it was dedicated.

Small and elegant, the interior of the church is a complete circle with a diameter of thirty-six feet, reminiscent of the Round Church in Cambridge (one of four such churches in England). Built of Palladian architecture, G.D Coleman ingeniously combined and adapted Western styles to the practical requirements of equatorial climate to create what was indisputably his masterpiece.

Although there are tombstones in the grounds, there are no burial plots under them. You can find the tombstones of some famous personalities like Agens (Ashghen) Joaquim and Catchik Moses. The former was the person after whom our national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim is named and the latter started The Straits Times.