Surabaya – Page 3 – Chater Genealogy

Armenians in Asansol

Armenians in Calcutta – St. Gregory’s

The Armenian chapel of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Kolkata was built by contributions from the community in 1906. As a mortuary chapel it has become known within the local Armenian community as “the small church”. During its construction 12 consecrated foundation stones were laid under and around the wall of the 12 corners of the Chapel representing the 12 Apostles. The Sir Paul Chater Home is situated near this Chapel and a few years ago, when there were a number of residents in the home, Holy Mass was celebrated every Saturday morning to enable them to attend a service.

: St. Gregory’s Armenian Mortuary Chapel, commonly known as “The Small Church”, Park Circus.

: St. Gregory’s Church, Park Circus, vegetable garden

: St. Gregory’s Church Armenian Mortuary Chapel, showing the garden topiary tribute to their benefactor Sir Catchick Paul Chater. Created using close-clipped box hedging the letters spell “C.P.C.H.” Catchick Paul Chater Home.

: Consecrated foundation of St. Paul

: Consecrated foundation of St. Simon

: Consecrated foundation of St. Phillip

: Consecrated foundation of St. Peter

: Consecrated foundation of St. Gregory

: Consecrated foundation of St. Luke

: Consecrated foundation of St. Bartholomew

: St. Gregory’s Armenian Mortuary Chapel, foundation stone.

Armenians in Calcutta – Tangra

In 1867 the area that is currently Tangra Church and cemetery, was originally a garden house. It was purchased by the then church warden, C.A. Vertannes for 12,000 rupees. He spent a further 3,600 rupees on it, converting the building into a church and laying out the grounds for burial purposes.

: 1867 Foundation stone of the Armenian Holy Trinity Church, Tangra

: Extract from the Armenian Church Calcutta burial register showing that the unknown remains of those Armenians buried at the Armenian cemetery in Colootollah were buried in at the Armenian Holy Trinity Church, Tangra.

: Notice of the next Sunday Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Tangra – dated 14 November 1952

: Tangra Church 2003

: Tangra Church 2007

A remarkable transformation has taken place between 20003 and 2007. This is solely due to the new, fresh and modern way the Armenian Church and the Committee in Kolkata are approaching the refurbishment and modernisation programme of everything within their jurisdiction which includes their educational establishments as well as their churches. The Church has an on-going refurbishment programme of the Armenian Churches in India. The Church at Saidabad has already undergone extensive renovations and the Armenian Church in Madras is currently in the process of being refurbished.

The church at Tangra is known as the Holy Trinity Chapel and was built on the 1st March 1867. The first centenary of the Chapel was celebrated in March 1968 when a large number of Armenians attended Holy Mass there. Around the Chapel is an Armenian cemetery. The oldest grave is that of C.G. Bijohn who died on the 19th March 1867.

Beside the cemetery, there is a large plot of land in which there is a pond. The sexton’s quarter was built on this plot in 1914 by the late Manatsakan Mackertich at his own expense.