Sille Çay Mosque

Çay Mosque, an old wooden-pillar mosque located south of the Sille stream in the Sille neighborhood of the Selçuklu district of Konya.

It is in the center of Sille's old market. The building, which turned into a neighborhood mosque after the market closed, is an important cultural heritage asset of the neighborhood. Because it is by the stream, it is called "Çay Mosque". In front of it there is a bridge that connects the two banks of the stream and provides access to the mosque. The wooden craftsmanship of the mosque is evaluated as a continuation of Seljuk wooden craftsmanship.

History

The exact construction date of the mosque is unknown. It is thought to have been built in the 19th century. Its wooden minbar carries the characteristics of late 19th-century Ottoman decorations. The building, erected in the center of Sille's old market, has its lower floor arranged as a school and storage, and its upper floor as a worship area. While it was a crowded market mosque, it turned into a neighborhood mosque after the market closed.

The mosque underwent a major restoration in 1976 under the leadership of the Sille businessman Halil İbrahim Sayar. Its ownership belongs to the General Directorate of Foundations. It was registered by the High Council for Real Estate, Old Works and Monuments in 1991. The building was repaired by the Selçuklu Municipality in 2012-2013.

During the 2012-2013 restoration, a Kaaba covering was found in the mosque's annex. It is thought that this Kaaba covering belonged to Mehmet Efendi, the founder of the Sille Madrasa, and that Mehmet Efendi came to Sille with his son Musa Kazım Efendi. The piece, measuring 35x66 cm, is engraved with verses from Surah Al-Baqarah, the 99 Names of God, and the Shahada.

Architectural features

The two‑storey building was planned to adapt to the sloping terrain; the lower floor is arranged as a school and storage, and the upper floor is used as a worship area.

The prayer hall of Sille Çay Mosque has a rectangular plan and is arranged vertically. The mosque's pulpit is adjacent to the south wall and near the west wall. The prayer hall is entered through the door on the north wall. In this section there are a total of 10 load‑bearing wooden columns arranged in two rows of five, perpendicular to the pulpit wall. The interior is illuminated by a total of 26 windows, with five on the north and south walls and eight on the east and west walls.

In the north part of the prayer hall the upper floor is arranged as a mam room and women's gallery. The rectangular outdoor rear congregation area is parallel to the north wall of the prayer hall. It is reached by stairs on both sides leading to the rear congregation area.

The mosque's minaret is in the northeast corner and attached to the mosque. It is reached from the door on the upper floor of the rear congregation area. The minaret’s cylindrical shaft is surrounded at the bottom by a stone band; above by a stone band and a blue tile border.

The wooden columns, the pulpit, the mihrab and the wooden minbar are artistic elements that attract attention.