Faith and Community

The Armenian Apostolic Church, established in the early 4th century, played a pivotal role in shaping Armenian culture and identity. Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, and faith remains an important factor in unifying Armenians throughout the global diaspora to this day.

In Brantford, Armenian religious services began in the early 1900s, organized by the Armenian Henchakist Revolutionary Party. Early services encouraged community strength and the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. However, without an official place of worship, the community relied on local churches for support. During a visit to Brantford in 1926, Archbishop Tirayre urged local Armenians to raise funds to erect a local church, helping garner support for the development of Canada's first Armenian church in St. Catharines in 1930.

The Armenian Cultural Club also contributed to the development of the local Armenian community. In 1967, this organization held the Snowflake Bazaar where Armenian foods and homemade goods were sold to raise funds for the community and local charities. These efforts helped support the local Armenian community and raise awareness of the Armenian people's history and struggles.

The Anatolian Armenians were a key focus for the missionary efforts of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), a Protestant movement influenced by abolitionism and the social gospel. In the late 1860s, the missionaries established Euphrates College, promoting education and religious reform. The Bible had been translated into vernacular Armenian, making it accessible to the educated Armenian population. Harry Cockshutt's connection to the Chambers family of missionaries from Woodstock led him to bring a group of Armenian workers to Brantford in the late 1800s. Grace Anglican Church, considered theologically aligned with the progressive missionary teachings, became the spiritual home for the Armenian community in Brantford.