'Renata di Francia'

                  registered charity

Renata di Francia  is a Registered Charity set up by the church  in 2003 to be an active branch in humanitarian and social welfare in Italy and abroad.

Established as a non profit making association it functions through the voluntary and gratuitous work of its members, who are engaged in humanitarian and social assistance.

It operates regularly in Ferrara and Rovigo in Italy assisting the needy such as immigrants, senior citizens and large families, and in Tenali, Andra Pradesh, India it rigorously supports an orphanage.

Amongst other things it promotes cultural events favouring discussions and the participation of citizens in debates touching upon topics of current relevance. 

It is registered with the Provincial Registry of Voluntary Associations in Ferrara (n.12627).

Renata di Francia

(Renée of France)

The reference to Renée of France (1510-1575) Duchess of Ferrara,  was chosen to express the link of the association to the Protestant inheritance which developed in Ferrara because of this famous person. In a short and troubled period, the duchess promoted many activities intended  to encourage culture and charity.

Daughter of King Luis XII and Anne of Brittany, Renée was born in Blois in 1510 and died in Montargis in 1575.  King Francis I, husband of her sister, gave her  in marriage to Ercole II d’Este, son of Alphonso I, Duke of Ferrara of  Lucretia Borgia.  An intelligent and  scholarly duchess, she maintained her ties with France whose interests she always upheld.  She was host to Calvin in 1536, the same year in which the French Reformer printed the first edition of his Institute of the Christian Religions.   Evidence of her esteem for Calvin is the abundant exchange of letters between the Duchess and the Reformer.

Our Association is currently engaged in promoting the publication of this correspondence, to mark the occasion of the 5^th centenary of the birth of the duchess. 

The correspondence is of great interest in that it bears witness to the relationship between these two people of great standing in 6^th century Europe and echos the important cultural and spiritual unrest of the times.

Thanks to Renée of France the Este court became e safe haven for Protestants who were persecuted in other States of the republic.  They found in Ferrara a refuge on their way to exile. However, the Roman Curia gained knowledge of the “free” spirit of the duchess, and encouraged by her own husband,  they placed her under surveillance,  when she refused to abandon her faith, they prosecuted her and sentenced her to perpetual imprisonment with the confiscation of her possessions.  Finally under this pressure she surrendered in (1554) but only as ruse, because she continued her correspondence with Calvin.

When her husband Ercole died in (1559) his son Alphonso II ruled the duchy.  He was unable to stand up against the impositions of Pope Pius IV and Renée was obliged to return to France. After a short time she retired to the castle of  Montargis  where she often offered hospitality to persecuted Huguenots. 

Culture and commitment are the two pillars upon which rests the essence of the duchess’ life and which the association which bears her name wants to emulate, starting from the city where she lived. 

Just as the court and interests of Renée were not restricted to the local social sphere but developed beyond the normal confines so the association wishes to be involved in international aid.

Humanitarian and social relief activities

Here is a short list of the activities in which the association is or has been engaged:

• Granting of micro-credits in Sri Lanka
• Shipment of pharmaceutical and sanitary material to clinics in the Philippines
• Promoting Fair Trade business by public exhibitions and shows in local squares, charity bazaars and meetings
• French and English language tuition in the Ferrara prison.
• Plans for the social reintegration of former convicts.
• In Rovigo, facility for the support of immigrant citizens looking for work and assistance with the bureaucratic legal requirements
• Regular financial and spiritual support for the orphanage of Tenani, Andra Pradesh, India

The Association is also concerned with the promotion of cultural  events: talks, conferences, and meetings at home and abroad.