Governance, History & Civic Stewardship

Statutory Structure and Democratic Governance

Established under the foundational French Law of July 1, 1901 (Association Loi 1901) and officially registered with the departmental prefecture under RNA registration number W284000596 and SIREN identifier 494626013, ASS POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE L EGLISE ST MARTIN operates as a completely independent, non-profit civic entity. The association is headquartered at La Buissonnière, 28330 Béthonvilliers, embedded directly within the rural territory whose cultural heritage it champions.

Our organizational structure is intentionally democratic, egalitarian, and rooted in community consensus. Every decision regarding restoration priorities, technical contractor selection, event organization, and budget allocations is deliberated openly by an elected Board of Directors and submitted for final review to our General Assembly of members. Unlike commercial enterprises or bureaucratic agencies, our association belongs entirely to its members and the broader community of Béthonvilliers.

Strict Volunteer Non-Remuneration Policy

A foundational cornerstone of our association is the strict principle of selfless volunteerism (bénévolat pur). In formal adherence to our bylaws and French fiscal guidelines governing non-profit organizations of general interest:

• Zero Executive Remuneration: No member of the Board of Directors, whether the President, Secretary, Treasurer, or technical committee chairs, receives any salary, dividend, attendance fee (jeton de présence), or financial compensation of any kind for their time and services.
• Reimbursement Only for Documented Expenses: Board members and active volunteers may only be reimbursed for exact, out-of-pocket expenses incurred directly on behalf of the association (such as purchasing safety goggles for a volunteer work day or postal stamps for sending annual general assembly convocations), backed by physical invoices and approved by the Treasurer.
• Absence of Profit Distribution: Any budget surplus generated at the conclusion of an operational fiscal year cannot be distributed among members; it must be systematically rolled over into our dedicated reserve fund for future church maintenance and emergency roof repairs.

The Board of Directors and Executive Committee

The management of ASS POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE L EGLISE ST MARTIN is entrusted to a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the General Assembly for renewable terms. The board represents a balanced blend of long-time village residents, retired building craftspeople, local educators, and architectural history enthusiasts:

Founding History and Archival Roots in Béthonvilliers

The creation of ASS POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE L EGLISE ST MARTIN arose from a critical moment in our village's recent history. In the early 2000s, severe seasonal storms battered the Perche region, dislodging ancient roof slates from the high nave of Saint-Martin Church and exposing the vulnerable oak rafters to penetrating winter rain. Over several months, moisture seeped into the interior stone corbels and began to stain the historic wall plastering near the choir.

Recognizing that our small municipal council possessed limited financial reserves to cover the escalating costs of specialized historical roof repairs, a dedicated gathering of Béthonvilliers citizens assembled in the village square to take proactive civic action. Led by local residents passionate about local history, retired craftsmen experienced in traditional masonry, and neighbors who had celebrated generations of family milestones within the church, the group resolved to create a formal Association Loi 1901.

The founding assembly was held with one overarching goal: to provide an organized, legally recognized, and financially transparent vehicle capable of gathering public donations, applying for departmental cultural subsidies, coordinating volunteer maintenance weekends, and partnering directly with municipal authorities. The association was formally registered with the Prefecture of Eure-et-Loir, receiving its official RNA identification number W284000596 and its national SIREN business registry number 494626013.

Financial Audit Ratios and Funding Transparency

Public trust is the lifeblood of our organization. Every citizen who donates five euros, pays their annual membership dues, or volunteers their time has the fundamental right to know exactly where every cent is allocated. We adhere to rigorous financial standards that prioritize field action above all else.

Our target operational budget ensures that **more than 80% of all annual funds are spent directly on tangible field missions**, including purchasing traditional hydraulic lime, hiring certified slate roofers, erecting protective safety scaffolds, and repairing antique stained-glass lead cames. Administrative and promotional costs are strictly limited to the bare minimum required for basic legal compliance, web portal hosting, and postal notices.

2025–2026 Financial Allocation Breakdown

How the Association Is Funded

Operating as an exclusively non-commercial public-interest entity, ASS POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE L EGLISE ST MARTIN does not sell goods or services. Our financial sustainability rests upon three clearly identified, non-commercial sources of revenue:

1. Public Grants & Institutional Subsidies: We regularly submit detailed restoration dossiers to the Commune of Béthonvilliers, the Communauté de Communes du Perche, and departmental heritage bodies in Eure-et-Loir. These public grants are ring-fenced for specific, qualified capital repairs such as bell tower consolidation or nave slate restoration.
2. Voluntary Membership Dues: Our members contribute an annual symbolic membership fee of 15€ (individual) or 25€ (family). These modest dues give members full voting rights in the General Assembly and create a steady, unrestricted operating pool to cover day-to-day administrative insurance and urgent minor repairs.
3. Public Charitable Contributions: Local residents, former villagers living elsewhere, and visitors who appreciate the architectural beauty of Saint-Martin Church provide voluntary donations. Because our association operates exclusively for the public benefit, eligible donors in France benefit from tax deduction certificates under Article 200 of the French General Tax Code.

Historical Chronology: Nine Centuries of Saint-Martin Church in Béthonvilliers

To fully appreciate the mission of our association, one must delve into the deep chronological timeline that shaped Saint-Martin Church over nearly a millennium. Archival records conserved in the departmental archives of Eure-et-Loir in Chartres, alongside regional ecclesiastical cartularies from the historical diocese of Chartres and the former province of Perche, illuminate how this building evolved in step with the rural society surrounding it.

The Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries (Romanesque Foundations): The earliest documentary traces point to a Romanesque chapel founded under the patronage of Saint Martin of Tours, the beloved patron of travelers, rural laborers, and agricultural workers. Built from local Perche flintstone and roughly dressed limestone blocks, the original nave featured a low, timber-trussed ceiling and sturdy, thick walls designed to endure severe seasonal weather. The north wall of the current nave preserves sections of this original Romanesque stone masonry, recognizable by its irregular herring-bone pattern (opus spicatum) and compact, narrow round-headed windows.

The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries (Post-War Rebuilding & Expansion): Like much of the borderland territory of Perche and Beauce, Béthonvilliers experienced significant hardships during the Hundred Years' War. At the conclusion of this protracted conflict, local landholders and peasant guilds undertook a comprehensive reconstruction of the church sanctuary. The choir was extended eastwards, incorporating pointed Gothic stone arches and vaulted choir bays. A stone piscina with delicate tracery was carved into the southern sanctuary wall, reflecting the renewed liturgical pride of the post-war parish community.

The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (Bell Tower Construction & Woodwork): During the French Renaissance and the subsequent seventeenth century, the parish undertook its most ambitious architectural addition: the construction of the monumental stone bell tower. Rising over twenty meters above the rural landscape, the tower featured thick corner buttresses, arched belfry louvers (abat-sons) carved from durable limestone, and a steep slate roof crowned with a forged iron cross and weathercock. Inside the church, local carpenters fashioned oak liturgical pews, an intricately carved communion rail, and a classical wooden retable framing oil paintings of Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar.

The Revolutionary Period and Nineteenth-Century Recovery: In the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789, the church was temporarily sequestered and narrowly avoided demolition thanks to the courage of Béthonvilliers villagers who petitioned departmental administrators to preserve the building as a communal grain storehouse and civic gathering hall. In 1802, religious services resumed. Throughout the nineteenth century, parish families raised funds to install new leaded stained-glass windows produced in traditional stained-glass ateliers in Chartres, depicting patron saints and Biblical narratives in glowing cobalt blue and ruby red tones.

The Twentieth Century to the Present: As the twentieth century brought mechanization and demographic shifts across rural France, maintenance demands began to outpace municipal resources. Routine repairs were frequently postponed, culminating in the critical roof leaks and masonry fractures of the early 2000s that prompted the formal founding of ASS POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE L EGLISE ST MARTIN.

Internal Audit Procedures and Volunteer Oversight Protocols

Fiscal rigor is embedded into the daily administration of our association. We implement strict multi-tier oversight procedures to ensure that not a single euro is mismanaged, lost to bureaucracy, or spent outside our public interest mandates:

• Dual Signature Authorization: Any banking transaction, check disbursement, or electronic wire transfer exceeding five hundred euros requires the joint authorization of both the President and the Treasurer, preventing unilateral financial commitments.
• Independent Volunteer Reviewer: In accordance with our internal governance rules, an independent association member who does not hold a seat on the Board of Directors is designated each year as the Official Account Auditor (Vérificateur aux Comptes). This reviewer inspects every invoice, bank statement, subsidy agreement, and donation receipt prior to the annual General Assembly, reading a formal audit report to the assembled members.
• Ring-Fenced Project Accounts: When our association receives designated grants or targeted public donations—such as funds earmarked specifically for bell tower timber repairs—these monies are deposited into separate, tracked project accounts. They cannot be reallocated or borrowed for general administrative expenditures under any circumstances.
• Public Access to Financial Balance Sheets: Any active member of our association and any resident of Béthonvilliers may request an appointment with our Treasurer to review the verified balance sheets, ledger entries, and supplier invoices. Complete transparency is our strongest defense of the public trust.

Community Collaboration with Béthonvilliers Municipality

Under French law (the Law of 9 December 1905 on the Separation of Church and State), religious buildings constructed prior to 1905 are generally the property of the local commune, while religious assignment is preserved for worship. As such, Saint-Martin Church is officially owned by the Commune of Béthonvilliers.

Our association does not replace the municipality; rather, we act as an indispensable civic partner and catalyst. We maintain a permanent, constructive dialogue with the Mayor and the Municipal Council. Before any restoration campaign or public event takes place, our Technical Committee submits an exhaustive technical description to the municipal council for formal approval. This cooperative model ensures that public municipal investments and private civic donations are harmoniously coordinated, maximizing every euro invested into the church's structural survival.

Long-Term Vision: A Preserved Beacon for Future Generations

Our vision for Saint-Martin Church extends beyond repairing cracks and replacing slates. We aspire to leave a monument that is physically fortified for the next hundred years and intellectually embraced by our children and grandchildren. By fostering an atmosphere of warmth, craftsmanship, and community pride, we ensure that the story of Béthonvilliers continues to be told through the sturdy stones of its beloved parish church.