Nadia Wright
Travellers visiting the bustling city-state of Singapore may not be
aware of the great impact made by the Armenians who form one of its
smallest minorities. Between 1820 and 2000, fewer than 700 Armenians
ever lived in Singapore. Although most were transient, with a mere 12
families residing for three generations, they have left a legacy
incommensurate with their numbers. Along with the Church of St. Gregory
the Illuminator, the oldest existing church in Singapore and its
parsonage, there are other reminders of the Armenian presence. These
include Raffles Hotel, the Straits Times newspaper, and Singapore’s national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim.
