The Role of Churches in the Continuity of Urban Space and Memory: The Case of İstanbul - Yeşilköy

The memory of city dwellers is incorporated into the memory of places and is worth preserving, just like the cultural values of a place. Memory enables the individual to perceive and sustain their past and existence of the person perceiving and gains meaning when it is associated with space. Religious minorities’ places of faith in Istanbul, Turkey, ensure the sustainability of memory and space. Churches and gathering spaces constitute places of memory and define cultural memory with memories as they transfer these memories from generation to generation. The churches in Yeşilköy, Istanbul are meeting places where minorities come together on important occasions. Newly constructed church has strengthened the debates on memory over the determining role of the spirit of a place. This study discusses and makes recommendations for ensuring the continuity of the components creating the spatial, collective, and cultural memory of the Yeşilköy neighborhood to maintain its originality Examinations and observations within the scope of this study have revealed that the sense of belonging among the religious minorities living there comes to the fore, which requires the participation of minorities in the work to be carried out in the area. Preservation of the tangible and intangible cultural values in this area should be the primary objective since memory contributes to the preservation of place.