Following the early genocide of Armenians in Turkey from 1895-1897, a stream of Armenians flowed into the city of Troy, NY. Their goal from the time they left Turkey was to create a church as their center for worship and social connections. They worshipped in homes and borrowed spaces until they were able to build their own church. With financial help from the Presbytery and Congregational Churches, whose missionaries had a strong presence in Turkey, Troy’s Armenian Presbyterian Church was founded in 1906, and the Congregational Church was built in 1916 to meet the growing needs of the congregation

Reports of continual slaughter, exile, and the attempted extermination of all Armenians in Turkey brought the two Armenian churches in Troy together and inspired a new name for the church in 1919: The United Armenian Calvary Congregational Church, in commemoration of a martyred nation. Memorial tributes were included in the stained glass windows of the new sanctuary church, and the other church building was converted for use as a parsonage. The local Armenian Apostolic churches affectionately called it “the Ninth Street Church,” a name they continued to use through the life of the church.

Original leaders of the “Ninth Street Church”: Migrants from Turkey were predominantly men originally, and they brought their wives and families over as they settled in and found employment. (Note: my grandfather, who died before I was born, is in first row, far left.)

One member told me most of the church women were employed by Cluett’s, a shirt factory in Troy. Some worked at the factory. But for those who had to be at home, a man made rounds every day with a horse and wagon, dropping off and picking up shirts in progress. Each woman had a specialty: collars, cuffs, buttons, buttonholes, etc., and eventually the shirts would be completed and sold. Many other fascinating (and funny) stories were shared by offspring of the Cluett’s Armenian women. When they weren’t sewing or keeping the home going and taking care of children, they were at the church (often with the children), where there always was something to do and someone to be helped. Another member shared that “although there was a lot of drama involved, the community was close knit and helped each other. The church was the center of social life and provided refuge and support for Genocide survivors who never really healed.

Circa early 1930’s—The Ladies Aid Members: Backbone of the Church

Under Reverend Rejebian and dedicated successors (see list at end), the church flourished, as did the Protestant Armenian community in Troy into the 21st century. One member, now deceased, spoke fondly of her youthful church experiences in the early to mid-thirties, particularly of Christian Endeavor, a youth group that engaged youth and teens in activities that helped the church and the community and bonded the members into adulthood. She described the physical changes to the church structure as it evolved from her earliest memories to when the new church hall was added in the 1950’s.

A new church hall was added in the mid-fifties

Dedicated members, committed Ladies Aid, a vigorous Sunday School and strong leadership kept the congregation growing and thriving up to the close of the 20th century. In 2001, the congregation celebrated their 95th anniversary.

Late 40’s/early 50’s: A growing and thriving Sunday School: Future Church Leaders

I have so many memories: of Sunday School picnics, rummage sales to raise funds, Christmas pageants; a trip to NYC to tour Riverside Church; singing in the choir; excursions with the youth fellowship members, and the conferences of the Armenian Protestant Youth Fellowship throughout the northeast. (One of my friends from the conferences became a minister and led our church from the late eighties through the late nineties: Reverend Joanne Gulezian-Hartunian.) And, of course, the many food events. Nothing was more welcoming than a food event hosted by the church members. Two of the favorites were the Strawberry Festival and the annual Armenian Smorgasbord. Both packed the hall, requiring massive preparations.

In the nineties this author witnessed a revival under Rev. Joanne Hartunian while attending an Easter service: the full pews, robust choir and participation by children mirrored holiday services of decades before.

Alas, with changing times, aging leaders, and increasingly mobile members, the church followed in the footsteps of so many others, holding their last regular service in 2011.

Prior to the sale of the building in 2020, a group of members organized a fitting closure service for their much-loved church. The Rev. Dr. Avedis Boynerian of Watertown Armenian Memorial Church officiated. A baby was baptized. Reverend Joanne Hartunian recorded a message for the closure service titled “You Are The Church.”

The church was converted into luxury apartments the following year, a structure named ”The Chapel Apartments”.

The proceeds from the sale of the church were distributed to the remaining two Troy area Armenian churches and to local and national Armenian projects and associations.

The former internal church structure is gone, but the beloved United Armenian Calvary Congregational Church structure stands tall on the corner of Ninth and Eagle in Troy, NY and remains in our hearts forever.