French pensioner donates one million euros for church restoration

91-year-old Raymond Landy. Photo: Daily Star

In France, 91-year-old Raymond Landy refused an inheritance of 1 million euros and donated the money to restore the church in his native village of La Chapelle-sur-Aveyron. This was reported by dailystar.

The elderly man resides in a nursing home, but, according to him, he always considered the local church a symbol of his homeland. After the death of his brother, who left him a large inheritance, Raymond decided to direct the funds to save the ancient church, which had been neglected for many years. Moreover, the church was under threat of demolition due to its deteriorating condition.

"I was born, baptized, and received my first communion here. I have always lived in La Chapelle," said Raymond Landy.

For the villagers, the church was not only a spiritual but also a cultural center. In gratitude for his deed, the local authorities installed a memorial plaque with his name.

The local community and parish expressed their gratitude to the donor, emphasizing that his act inspired many to think about personal responsibility for the preservation of churches. Construction work is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2026 and will last about a year.

As reported by the UOJ, every 15 days a Christian church is destroyed in France.

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