Non-profit American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres Aims to Save Oldest Church in Paris

    WASHINGTON, DC, November 07, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to fund the restoration of Paris' oldest church. The foundation works with its French counterparts in Paris at The Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres Foundation to garner donations in the pursuit of preserving history.

The organization's mission is to foster an appreciation for French culture and arts among the public in the United States. It will achieve this, in part, by participating in the restoration of the Church of Saint Germain des Pres so it may continue to serve its parishioners and welcome the nearly 700,000 visitors each year from all over the world who come to see and be inspired by its unparalleled beauty.

"Together we can, and will, breathe new life into this emblematic heritage site," says program director David Sheppe. "American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres is playing a vital role in preserving the church of Saint Germain des Pres for generations to come. Through the public's generosity, we will ensure the survival of this ancient church structure in the heart of Paris."

The Church

Walking through this house of worship is like taking a journey to the past. Witness centuries-old art depicting historical and religious figures, intricately decorated capitals portraying aspects of the Old and New Testaments, plants and animals, and even monastic life. Most notable are the vast mural works painted by Hippolyte Flandrin in the 19th century.

Adopt a Saint Germain Star

The Adopt a Saint Germain Star Campaign is a fundraising effort by American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres Church and The Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres Foundation to garner funds for a multi-year, multi-tranche restoration of the church's art, windows, stonework and structural integrity. Donors may go online today and adopt one or more of the hundreds of stars in the church's ancient, vaulted ceiling. The Adopt a Saint Germain Star campaign mirrors a similar, highly successful campaign already underway in France. The entire Monk's Choir was recently and magnificently completed in large part due to the generosity of private donors in France and the United States, and two Adopt a Star campaigns.

The challenge now is to fund Restoration Tranches 2 through 5. There are more than 800 stars currently available and donations will directly impact the preservation of this historic structure and its beautiful celestial ceiling. American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres' need is to fund the restoration of the Transept (2017) and the Nave (2018), including their ceilings, which show a total of 3,000 additional stars.

For more information, contact Executive Publicist Michelle Tennant Nicholson at [email protected] or 828-749-3200.

Online press kit: www.PreserveSaintGermain.OnlinePressKit247.com
Public site: www.PreserveSaintGermain.org

About: American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to fund the restoration of Paris's oldest church. The foundation works with its French counterparts at The Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres Foundation to garner donations in the pursuit of preserving history.

# # #