April 25, 1949 and September 14, 1989,
It has been 75 and 35 years since the two first champions of the cathedral left us…
Étienne Houvet began his service at the Cathedral in 1906, as sacristan-guardian of Notre-Dame, photographer, image-maker, archaeologist, tireless guide – apostle, then editor of the famous “Monographie de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres”.
He spent almost half a century in the service of Notre-Dame; his work, dedication and spiritual influence earned him an almost international reputation, of which we still have traces thanks to numerous testimonials:
– « One Sunday, on Radio-Luxembourg, I heard an American express his gratitude for all the revelations of beauty he owed her. There are thousands of us who can speak like that »;
– Extract from the Journal “La Croix” 1949: « His explanations themselves had a religious significance likely to do good to the public, sometimes mixed, whose visits he directed »;
– Extract from the Journal “Le Monde” 1949: « This simple man of modest extraction had acquired, through his personal studies, an archaeological science that many professionals envied; he had taken some three hundred photographs of all the cathedral’s particularities, and put them together in monographs which, spread throughout France and abroad, have contributed to the basilica’s renown »;
– Émile Mâle, preface – 1927: « Mr. Houvet has single-handedly attempted what ministers, famous artists and scholars had failed to do. This publication will be as useful to art history with its photographs as it is to scholars with their books »;
– Father Yves Elégoët – 1970: « His knowledge is not limited to cold, cerebral erudition. He is an intuitive gifted with great artistic sensitivity and an equally great love of Notre-Dame de Chartres. In Chartres, he discovers much more than an admirable arrangement of stones and colored glass. He discovered a soul ».
Before his time, Étienne Houvet, passionate about his desire to pass on his knowledge, had understood the importance of photography as a new art form: an exceptional means of restoring the value of architecture, sculpture and stained glass, and bringing the message of medieval art up to date. Concerned with his profession as a guide, and with a form of apostolate, he spoke as much from his Christian heart as from his scholarly knowledge. What influence did he have on his interlocutors? Only God knows!
We at the Cathedral Visitor Service know!
Marie Houvet, began working with her father in 1940, and succeeded him in 1949, with the same passion.
« With her back to the stage, letting her knowledge, her heart and her faith speak abundantly, she would present a stained-glass window, a portal or a statue. She spoke of it with such precision, life, flame and love that she captivated her audience and made them want to continue their visit again and again, to the point where she was often exhausted » – Abbé Joseph Hercouët – 1989.
From the 1970s onwards, Marie surrounded herself with a team of auxiliary guides. They included Colette Soleille, Marie-Hélène Doré and Jeanine Sauvanon. Their pastoral work was much appreciated and recognized.
Abbé Hercouët, sympathetic to the mission of evangelization initiated by Marie Houvet, called upon Sister Anne Marie Le Thiec, a nun from Ker-Maria (she had just completed a degree in Fine Arts), to take charge of this team of guides. Thus was born the cathedral’s Service-Accueil-Visites, or “S.A.V”.
Thank you Étienne and Marie Houvet, to whom we owe the origin of our Service.
We acknowledge that we owe them a great deal, especially our “passionate” way of sharing our knowledge of Notre-Dame de Chartres, and our wish, like them, to “do good” to our listeners.
In June 2021, amidst the Covid pandemic, we were unable to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Service, so commemorating Étienne and Marie Houvet in this year 2024 brings us joy.
The entire team of volunteer guides wishes to rename our meeting room as the “Étienne and Marie Houvet Room”.
March, 2024 – Capucine Soupeaux