Long before the humble beginnings of the Ararat Armenian Congregational Church, events and circumstances in Armenian communities worldwide worked together to bring about its establishment.

In the late 1800's, Armenian refugees came to America in order to establish themselves in a place where they could work and live in a free society. At the same time, these newcomers wished to practice their religion as well as nurture and preserve their precious Armenian culture. Lawrence, Massachusetts, being a booming industrial city at that point in history, drew many Armenians to this area.

Being a very religious people, the Armenians who came sought out a congregational church in Lawrence where they could worship together. The language barrier was difficult, a fact recognized by the American minister of that church. He approached the Armenians in the church and asked them if they knew of a minister who could speak their language and would be willing to join them in worship services. They replied in the affirmative, resulting in an invitation to Rev. Sahag Hovsepian of Worcester. Along with the American minister, Rev. Hovsepian established the Bethel Armenian Congregational church in Lawrence. The American church allowed the Armenians to continue using its facilities and also paid a portion of Rev. Hovsepian's salary. Worship continued in this manner until 1895.

The Armenians, realizing the political uncertainty in Turkey, decided to bring their families here. Some who could not find work in Lawrence factories left the city and purchased farms in Andover and Salem. Among these first settlers were Melkon and Sarkis Garabedian, Garabed and Voskian Jamgochian, Krikor and Sarkis Khanjian, Garabed Matorian and Avedis and Setrak Vartanian. A number of others followed, settling in the Salem area.

Traveling the long distance to the Lawrence church became a hardship and the need for an Armenian church in Salem became an important issue. On October 25, 1912, a meeting of all Armenians in the area took place, led by Kapriel Bedrosian and Melkon Garabedian. A committee was formed for the purpose of building and Armenian church in Salem.

The goal set, our founders then set forth to the task of realizing their dream. They strive to find both labor and monetary contributors. This resulted in assistance from the Home Mission Board of the New Hampshire Conference (United Church of Christ). Land was obtained from the Northeastern Street Railway Company. The Church Building Society gave a $750 grant and an $800 loan. Construction began and within a year, the church was completed. The first service was held on July 25, 1913. On November 12, 1913, the church was dedicated, with Rev. Bedrosian officiating. American and Armenian clergy, as well as government officials were in attendance.

Later it was agreed that Rev. Bedrosian would serve both the Salem and Lawrence churches. He contributed much to our humble beginnings and satisfied cultural and religious needs to the growing Armenian community in Salem. Some of his accomplishments were the formation of a choir, an Armenian school, an organization called "Asdkh" (Star) for the children, and weekly meetings fro adult members on national and religious issues. Rev. Bedrosian stayed on until 1918.

Rev. Tavit Pakhchoyan served from 1918 until 1920. He was followed by Rev. Markar Der Assadourian, who served as interim minister from 1920 until 1921.

Rev. Vahan Tamzarian succeeded him and was ordained in our church. He established a close relationship with his parishioners. Rev. Tamzarian died in July 1925, while pastor of our church.

Rev Yeprem Jernazian served our church from September 1925 to December, 1926. A parsonage was built during this time.

Rev. Socrates Mackitarian was ordained in the Ararat Armenian Congregational Church on June 22, 1928, and served as our pastor until September 1942. The church and vestry were enlarged during his 14 year ministry here and the Ladies Aid Organization came into existence, as did the Christian Endeavor Society, the latter through the efforts of Dr. and Mrs. Shamlian.

Rev Arsen Goergizian accepted a call to our church in January 1943. During this period of church growth, an electric organ was purchased through the generosity of the Christian Endeavor Society and gifts from parishioners. Other improvements were the addition of memorial stained glass windows an new light fixtures. Rev. Goergizian remained with us until 1953.

Rev George Cary filled the pulpit from 1953 until 1955. During his ministry, services were held in English. The pressures of the American culture could not be denied, and gradually the English language converged with the Armenian.

Rev. Mihran Keoroghlian ws invited to serve in September 1955, preaching in both English and Armenian. During his stay, the vestry was remodeled with new ceilings, lights and flooring. It was also during this time that the Ararat Church was taking its place in the community through various activities. Rev Keoroghlian served here until 1962.

Rev. Avedis Jean Zarifian became our pastor in September 1962. Church services remained essentially the same – bilingual. An Armenian School was once again established, as well as a Bible Study class. It was during this time, that members of the Bethel Church were invited to merge with the Ararat Church. For a while, the possibility of a merger between the two churches appeared to be an "impossible dream." The Armenian Evangelical Union of North America was asked to participate in merger discussion sessions. The "impossible dream" was finally realized in June 19, 1965. Rev. Zarifian remained our pastor until 1967.

Rev. Zaven Dohanian was called as our pastor in 1967. Under his guidance, the Christian Education Committee was formed, a committee which serves our Sunday School to the present time. Rev. Dohanian not only saw to our religious needs, but went beyond and reached out to the community as well. During his tenure, our church rejoiced in the "burning of the mortgage." He stayed on until 1974.

In 1974, Rev. Soghomon Nuyjukian came to this country from Beirut, Lebanon, to serve our church. Because of his background he related well to our people and tended both to our spiritual and cultural needs. During this time (in 1977), the Armenian Congregational Church of Haverhill, Massachusetts, merged with the Ararat Church. Rev. Nuyjukian served until 1980.

Rev. Robert Swanson served as interim minister from 1980 to 1981.

Rev. John Mokkosian came to Ararat Armenian Congregational Church in 1981. He set to the task of rebuilding our youth programs, and once again, we had an active group of young people (Pilgrim Fellowship) as well as a flourishing Sunday School. His service went beyond our small church and reached far into the community. Serving as spokesman for the Salem Council of Churches, he expressed its opinion against legalized gambling in the town. Once again, Ararat Church was recognized in the community. It was during Rev. Mokkosian's ministry that additional Sunday School rooms and pastor's office were built. Rev. Mokkosian served until 1985.

In 1985, Rev. Robert Swanson was again asked to serve as our interim minister, and in September 1988, he was called to be our pastor. He served the church family faithfully and willingly, always with a cheerful spirit. Rev. Swanson retired from ministry in the spring of 2001. He served the Ararat Armenian Congregational Church for more years than any other single pastor.

In August of 2001, Rev. Ara Heghinian was called to serve our church. In preparation for the arrival of Rev. Heghinian and his young family, a major renovation was carried out at the parsonage. During his time, the youth group has once again been established and the worship service has once again incorporated occasional Armenian scripture readings. Ministry in the community, in partnership with the Salem Clergy Association has been strengthened as well as connections with other Armenian Evangelical churches in the Boston area. A church growth and membership campaign has been the latest emphasis of the congregation and hopes are high that with the grace of God, the Gospel will continue to spread wide through the ministry of the Ararat Armenian Congregational Church.

On October 25, 1912, nineteen individuals in the Salem, New Hampshire area, met to make known their aspirations in the establishment of a church wherein they could worship God and nurture their faith and still maintain and preserve their Armenian culture and traditions. In these humble beginnings, they strove to keep alive their religious traditions and expose their children and grandchildren to their unique heritage and customs.

A great deal of sacrifice was necessary to achieve this goal, none of which would have been successful without the effort of the Executive Committee under the guidance of Rev. Kapriel Bedrosian.

Help was first sought, and attained, from the Congregational Conference, presently known as the United Church of Christ. A land grant was obtained from the Northeastern Street Railway Company. Within a short time the church was built, and dedication services took place on November 12, 1913.

As the years passed, God’s blessings were shown in the growth of church membership and the strengthening of spiritual living in the community.

In time, Ararat Church merged with two other churches: Bethel Armenian Church of Methuen, Massachusetts, in 1965; Armenian Congregational Church of Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1977.

Thank be to God for this shared unity.

The Ararat Church family has been fortunate to have had many hard-working and dedicated leaders throughout its history.

Rev. Ara Heghinian has been the pastor of the Ararat Armenian Congregational Church since the Summer of 2001. He currently serves as the Vice Moderator of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (AEUNA). He is also a Pastoral Counselor on staff with the New England Pastoral Institute (NEPI) and holds membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

Rev. Heghinian has always valued the power of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and has experienced this power in his own life and throughout his relationships.

Rev. Heghinian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, July 24, 1968, to parents of Armenian descent. At an early age, his family immigrated to the metropolitan Boston area and became actively involved in the Armenian Memorial Church of Watertown (UCC).

After attending both private Armenian schools and public schools in Watertown and Belmont, MA, in 1986, Rev. Heghinian graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, MA with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Management Information Systems. In 1993, he received a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ

Upon graduation from PTS, Rev. Heghinian remained in New Jersey and served the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey as pastor from 1993 to 2001. He has had extensive experience in the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, (AEUNA), the Presbyterian Church - USA (PCUSA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC). Each of these denominations recognizes Rev. Heghinian as a minister in good standing.

Because of his early years in the UCC, Rev. Heghinian was ordained to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament in January 1994 by the United Church of Christ. He was received into the membership of the Palisades Presbytery of the PCUSA on October of 1994 in order to serve the Paramus church. He has served as the pastor of Ararat Armenian Congregational Church of Salem, NH since the August of 2001. Each of these congregations has also been AEUNA churches with long histories of Armenian ethnic heritage.

Rev. Heghinian is currently the Vice Moderator of the Board of Directors of the AEUNA and as such serves as the chair of its Personnel Committee. He also served on the Board of Directors as Armenian Evangelical Youth Fellowship (AEYF) National Administrator and as an elected board member from 1994 until 1998. During that time he was also a member of the Ministry Committee and acted as chairman of the Youth Committee.

Rev. Heghinian is also currently involved in a Doctor of Ministry program of study at Andover Newton Theological Seminary. His concentration is in Pastoral Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy. His involvement in this Doctoral work is a mark of his commitment to helping families and individuals experience greater growth and wholeness in their personal and spiritual life. Recently he has begun practicing as a Pastoral Counselor with the New England Pastoral Institute of Salem, NH.

In the PCUSA, he has served on the Spiritual Development and Theology Unit of the Presbytery of the Palisades as both member and Chairperson. He also served on the Commissioned Lay Pastor design team for the Presbytery in 2000. In 2002 he acted as a consultant to five churches of the Presbytery of Boston as they worked to develop youth programs and currently holds membership in that Presbytery.

Since coming to Salem, NH he has been active in the community through the Salem Clergy Association and has been called to speak to numerous ecumenical and church groups with a message of growth and vision for Christian communities.

Rev. Heghinian has been happy and blessed in his marriage to Kimberly Rose (Zartarian) since 1993. God’s greatest gift to them has been two sons, Alexander Hovaness, who was born in February 2000 and Gregory Jacob, born October 2003.