Analysis of 19th century rural church in Maçka (Değirmendere valley) and conservation offer

The problem of rural religious structures becoming unusable and obsolete for various reasons in many countries, including our own, reveals the consequences of neglect, deterioration, or destruction of traditional buildings shaped by the shared teachings of humanity and nature. Given the socio-cultural, economic, physical, and legal threats to rural areas, the preservation of both tangible and intangible values in these regions becomes of great importance. In 1839, with the issuance of the Tanzimat Edict, Christians who were previously restricted by laws from building churches within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire began constructing new churches with the rights granted by the Edict. The rapid urbanization process that started in the 19th century resulted in many structures in the rural area of Maçka becoming unusable by the early 20th century, particularly due to the population exchange. Numerous religious structures left by the Christian community were either abandoned, demolished, or repurposed as mosques. Various factors such as socio-cultural elements, economic considerations, a sense of belonging, and inadequacies in preservation policies contribute to the preservation challenges faced by these structures. In this context, the study aims to analyze the difficulties related to the preservation of 14 churches dating back to the 19th century in the region within a structural-environmental-administrative framework. The goal is to provide solutions to preservation issues and develop site-specific preservation approaches.