On March 1, 2022, American friends of Chartres (AFC) signed a new sponsorship agreement (Convention de Mécénat) with the French State represented by Madame Francoise Souliman, Prefect (governor) of Eure-et-Loir and the Direction Régionale des affaires culturelles, Région Centre-Val de Loire, the regional arm of the French Ministry of Culture, responsible for the conservation of French monuments.

Through this agreement, AFC pledges to raise funds totaling €472 584,00 (approximately $570,000) by 2024, which will be used to finance the restoration of bays 117 and 125 of the North transept of Chartres Cathedral. The Window of three Saints (Bay 117) contains a rose representing a priest-donor with two lancets depicting Saints Philip, Andrew and Jude. The Window of St Anne (Bay 125) depicts the story of St Anne, the mother of Virgin Mary, including the annunciation to Joachim and the visitation of Mary to her mother.

The signing of this new agreement represents a key step in the history of AFC and in AFC’s relationship with its sister association, Chartres, sanctuaire du Monde. Indeed, this agreement is the largest AFC has ever signed. The day also marked a historic step in the relations between the French State and donor associations to the Cathedral, as all three were represented, the third one being Les Amis de la Cathédrale.

Restoration of Bays 117 and 125 is expected to be completed by 2024.

Mr. Paul Trouilloud of Chartres Sanctuaire de Monde signed on behalf of AFC. Dominique Lallement, AFC President, delivered short remarks by video-conference; they are attached in both English and French. Craig Kuehl, AFC’s vice-president, Jill Geoffrion and Alexis Milcent, members of the Advisory Board, also participated by video-conference.

restore and preserve the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres

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