Opening of the Serbian Orthodox Church

King Peter the second of Yugoslavia visits Halifax for the grand opening of a Serbian Orthodox Church.

Chaperoned by bodyguards and surrounded by cheering crowds, King Peter the second of Yugoslavia attends the opening of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Halifax. Once inside, the film changes from black and white to colour, showing the ornateness of the interior of the Church, and marking an important milestone for the British-Serb community in Yorkshire.

King Peter II held strong links with the UK – he was educated in the UK and had royal godparents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother). In 1947, The first Serbs arrived in Yorkshire from Germany to work in Britain’s coal mining, textiles and agricultural industries, which marked the beginnings of British-Serb communities in the region.