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St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, İzmir

St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, İzmir

Mahmut Esat Bozkurt Caddesi No:49 Alsancak, İzmir, 35220 Türkiye

RELIGIONS Catholic

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
The history of Anglican Church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist goes back to 17th century. The first building was built in on the same site as the chapel of British Consulate in 1635. The present church was built between 1898 and 1899 in the very vicinity of the train station connecting İzmir to Aydın. Being in Neo-gothic style, it has is a single nave in the east-west direction and it has a wooden pitch roof. The name of the architecture of the church is not known.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
The first Anglican Church was built about 1625 by the Levant Company for the use of its employees and other British residents of Smyrna. There has been an unbroken line of Chaplains resident in Izmir since 1630. The current church, built for the use of British inhabitants and forming part of the premises of the British Consulate General was consecrated in 1900, and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. Bishop William Collins (Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe (1904-1911)) is buried beneath the west end of the church. Bishop Collins died on board the SS Saghalien, whilst on his way from Constantinople to a liturgy of Confirmation at St John's, on 22 March 1911. The Bishop Collins Memorial Hall, which adjoins the church was built in memory of the bishop. His episcopal ring was set into a beautiful silver chalice which is still used on special celebrations of the Eucharist. St John's Church occupies a fine and prominent site close to the main Alsancak Gar (railway station). The former chaplain's residence is currently used by the British Foreign Office as its Consulate in Izmir. The current chaplain lives in an apartment close to the church.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
The church itself is one of the still active Anglican churches in İzmir.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
The multi-ethnic and multi-religion society of Izmir enjoyed decades of prosperity in the 19th century until the break of WWI. Even the city had a mixed population; demographic structure was well defined by districts. The business was mostly in the hands of Levantines and their district, where the Church of St. John is. With the population exchange in 1922 between Greece and Turkey, the demographic structure of the city drastically changed becoming overwhelmingly Muslim. In due course of time the numbers of Christians and Jews living in the city decreased.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
- Direct visit
A direct visit, if possible, would be the best way for students to experience the atmosphere of the place.
- Virtual visit (specify how)
A PPT presentation prepared by the tutor enriched with visuals.
- Classroom activity (pre- and post- visit)
Pre-visit activity: A research by students on history of Izmir during Ottoman era with special attention to multi-ethnic and multi-religion society.
Compare the bigger harbor town (or commercial hub) and demographics of its population.
Post-visit:
- Discussion if trade had a role in multi-ethnic and multi-religion society.
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.