Abbey de Valloires, a living history
History: In 1137 Count Guy II of Ponthieu authorized monks from the Cistercian Abbey of Citeaux to settle in the valley of Authie then known as Valloires. The first church was consecrated in 1226 . The abbey was rebuilt from 1742 to 1756. The Abbey de Valloires has gone through some difficult times with ongoing wars against England and Spain. It has suffered through religious conflicts and the French Revolution. The abbey was sold on July 7, 1791 to a local landlord, Jourdain de l’ Eloge who, by his protection, saved the abbey from looting and destruction. The abbey was sold again by his heirs in 1817 to a secular congregation, the Basilians, present until 1880.They were then replaced by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which set up an orphanage. The abbey was again sold in 1905 and then occupied during WWI as a Belgian hospital.
The abbey was occupied during WWII by the Germans when Marshall Rommel wanted to use it as general headquarters.
Living History. In 1922 Thérèse Papillon, a French Red-Cross nurse, bought the abbey and founded the Association de Valloires. The Association was recognized as a non profit charity organization on June 10, 1925. The Association is the sole owner of the abbey and its various components.
One component of the Association is
dedicated to foster children. The Abbey has fostered well over 25,000 children since 1922.
In addition, the Association has
developed a service center for the elderly (nursing homes,....) To keep and maintain the abbey, the Association has developed cultural and hotel services.
Milestones: • Purchase in 1922 • Installation of running water in 1925 • Installation of electricity in 1928 • Installation of central heating in 1929
PHILANTROPY WITHOUT SCALE AND SUSTAINABILITY
IS LIKE ANY OTHER BAD BUSINESS
THAT WILL SIMPLY WITHER AND DIE ON THE VINE.
NAVEEN JAIN
IN FACT ASSOCIATION DE VALLOIRES NEEDS YOU FOR OUR ENDOWMENT FUND
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FUND PLEASE GO TO OUR ENGLISH DEDICATED WEB SITE.
IF YOU ARE A US RESIDENT IT IS TAX DEDUCTABLE THANKS TO OUR TAX RELEASE THROUGH FONDATION DE FRANCE IN
NEW YORK
contact: Katie Bennett
Friends of Fondation de France
Phone: (212) 812-4362
E-mail: info@friendsoffdf.org
Our US site