Crimea Memorial Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crimean Memorial Church, Istanbul |
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| Location | Serdar-ı Ekrem Sokak, Beyoğlu, İstanbul |
| Country | Turkey |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | Christ Church |
| Consecrated | 1868 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | George Edmund Street |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Eastern Archdeaconry |
| Diocese | Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe |
The Crimea Memorial Church, also called Christ Church, Galata, is a special church in Istanbul, Turkey. It belongs to the Church of England and is located in the Beyoglu - Taksim area of the city.
History of the Church
This church was built to remember British soldiers who died in the Crimean War. Sultan Abdulmecid gave the land for it. Building started in 1858 and finished in 1868.
The idea for a memorial church in Istanbul began in 1856. A competition was held to find the best design. The architect William Burges won the competition. However, there were disagreements among the approval committee. Some people thought Burges's design looked "un-English." Because of these issues, he was replaced in 1863.
The new architect was George Edmund Street. He designed the church in the Victorian Gothic style. Construction then continued from 1864 to 1868.
The church closed in 1978 because not enough people were attending. Later, a group of refugees from Sri Lanka helped to restore the building. They had come to Istanbul after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The church was able to open its doors again in September 1991.
The church's organ was made in England in 1911 by W. Hill & Son. This company also built organs for famous places like York Minster and Ely Cathedral. The beautiful wrought iron staircase inside the church also came from London. The organ loft holds old regimental flags from the Crimean War. It also has two flags from British military headquarters after the First World War. You can also see the flag from the battleship that took Mehmed VI, the last sultan, into exile. The front of the organ is decorated with colorful, modern art by Erica Beard. These artworks show stories from the Bible.
Art and Memorials
The wooden rood screen was put up in 1923. It remembers those who died in the Gallipoli campaign. Between 1995 and 2005, a Scottish artist named Mungo McCosh decorated it. He painted images of saints and other figures. The background of his paintings shows the skyline of Istanbul. People who attended the church posed as models for the faces of the saints. In a unique Turkish touch, the Christ child in one painting is shown holding a simit, which is a popular Turkish bread ring.
The chancel area of the church has a special memorial. It honors Roger Short, who was the British Consul-General. He died in a bomb attack that destroyed the original entrance to the British Consulate on November 30, 2003.
Work of the Church Today
The main Sunday service is held in the church every week at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. There is a priest who lives in Istanbul and serves three Anglican churches there. These churches are Christ Church (Galata), All Saints (Moda), and St Helena (located at the British Consulate).
Since the church reopened, its basement area, called the crypt, has been used as St George's Hostel. This hostel is a big part of the church's charity work. It helps refugees and migrants who come to Istanbul and need a place to stay. In recent years, the church has provided shelter for over 2,000 homeless people. It continues to help people who have been displaced, especially Christians who have fled from Pakistan.
