Sacred Space and Anglo-Turkish Relations: The Politics of British Churches and War Graves in Turkey, 1825 to 1976

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This work investigates how various sacred spaces in Ottoman and Republican Turkey interfaced with British foreign policy. It considers how these spaces impacted upon British prestige in the context of its dealings with Turkey chiefly, as well as other Great Powers. The period covered is from the demise of the Levant Company in 1825, to the deconsecration of the Crimean Memorial Church in Istanbul, in 1976. Other sacred spaces discussed include the British Embassy Chapel, the Crimean War cemeteries, various British churches and cemeteries in Izmir, the Gallipoli cemeteries, connected with the campaign of 1915, and the Phanar, the Ecumenical Patriarchs home in Istanbul. The book considers how, and to what extent, the Foreign Office in London, and its staff in Turkey, intervened to secure those spaces, and why the politics of the Patriarchate intruded into the Foreign Offices geo-strategic considerations. It considers the limits of that support, and how dealings over sacred space intermeshed generally with British policy towards Turkey. It further explores the motives, not just of diplomats and consuls, who were instrumental in establishing or safeguarding those spaces, but also the aims of other organisations and of expatriate Britons, who were similarly involved. It also considers instances where such support became attenuated or was withdrawn. The book is unique in illuminating, in a broad fashion, the role of sacred space in the context of Anglo-Turkish relations, and British power projection in the Near East.

Reviews

An elegantly written account of the role of Sacred Spaces in the relations of Britain, a key Great Power, and Turkey. Deep research presented with a refreshing clarity and filled with fascinating vignettes. * Erik Goldstein, Professor, Boston University, USA *
Sacred Space and Anglo-Turkish Relations is a masterly work, offering a fascinating and highly original account of British policy in Turkey and the wider Eastern Mediterranean. * Thomas G. Otte, Professor, University of East Anglia, UK *

Author Bio

John Fisher is Senior Lecturer in International History at the University of the West of England, UK. He is the author and co-editor of several books, including Religion and Diplomacy: Religion and British Foreign Policy, 1815 to 1941. He is also the author of many scholarly articles about British policy in the Middle East and North Africa.