Kloster Frenswegen

Kloster Frenswegen is a historic former Augustinian monastery located near Nordhorn in the county of Bentheim, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1394 as the Augustinian Canons' monastery of St. Marienwolde, it was the first German monastery to join the Windesheim Congregation in 1400. After centuries of religious life, it was dissolved in 1809 during secularization, and the last canon left in 1815. In 1974, the building was revived as an ecumenical meeting place. Today it operates as the Stiftung Kloster Frenswegen, an ecumenical foundation that unites six churches under one roof: Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, Moravian, and Old Reformed. This makes it a unique ecumenical conference and guest house in Europe. The foundation offers a space for reflection, education, and encounter, open to all who seek stillness and new inspiration. The historic atmosphere of the former Augustinian monastery provides an ideal setting for church and group trips, conferences, seminars, and receptions. The site also includes a pilgrim hostel currently under development, with overnight stays available in the main house for pilgrims. The foundation is based at the monastery in Nordhorn and continues to serve as a place of spiritual life and dialogue.

Kloster Frenswegen was founded in 1394 as the Augustinian Canons' monastery of St. Marienwolde. The initiative came from Everhard van Eze, a physician from Almelo who became a priest after his wife's death, along with Heinrich Krull, Johann Monike, and Rembert van Goer. They purchased the Eynolding farm from Count Bernhard I of Bentheim and established a monastery following the Rule of St. Augustine. In 1400, by decree of Pope Boniface IX, the monastery joined the Windesheim Congregation, becoming the first German monastery to do so, and was placed directly under papal authority. The foundation stone of the monastery church was laid in 1436, and the church was consecrated in 1445. By 1451, the community included 24 canons, three conversi, four clerics, ten donates, 57 lay brothers, and others. In 1494, a canon wrote a Latin chronicle for the monastery's centennial. During the Reformation, the Counts of Bentheim converted to Lutheranism and imposed restrictions; in 1560 the convent was forbidden to accept new novices. In 1578 the brothers acquired a castle in Nordhorn and moved there in 1580 due to wartime insecurity. In 1588 Count Arnold II issued a Reformed church order, and in 1595 the empty monastery was looted and damaged. By the start of the Thirty Years' War, the convent had only one member. Reconstruction began in 1641, and the convent returned in 1655. Under Prince-Bishop Christoph Bernhard von Galen, the monastery experienced a second flowering; Count Ernst Wilhelm of Bentheim converted to Catholicism in 1668. By 1700 the convent had seven priests, two conversi, and 19 externs. Building work from 1692 ended in 1725, and the west facade was completed in 1742. The complex stood until a fire in 1878. The convent survived the Seven Years' War and the French Revolutionary Wars, but in 1803 France took possession of Bentheim and dissolved the Windesheim Congregation. On 5 May 1804, Count Ludwig of Bentheim and Steinfurt signed the Paris Treaty with Napoleon, regaining control and assuming authority over the monastery. The monastery was dissolved on 25 October 1809, and the last canon left in 1815. In 1974, the building was established as an ecumenical meeting place, and the Stiftung Kloster Frenswegen was formed, uniting six churches: Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, Moravian, and Old Reformed. Today it serves as an ecumenical conference and guest house, open to all.

• 1974

  Ecumenical meeting place established; Stiftung Kloster Frenswegen founded.

• 1878

  Fire destroyed the complex.

• 1815

  Last canon left the monastery.

• 1809

  Monastery dissolved on 25 October.

• 1742

  West facade completed, finishing the complex.

• 1725

  Rebuilding work completed.

• 1692

  Rebuilding of the monastery began.

• 1668

  Count Ernst Wilhelm of Bentheim converted to Catholicism.

• 1655

  Convent returned to Frenswegen after the Thirty Years' War.

• 1641

  Reconstruction of monastery buildings began.

• 1595

  Empty monastery looted and damaged.

• 1580

  Convent moved to Nordhorn due to wartime insecurity.

• 1560

  Count forbade acceptance of new novices.

• 1494

  Latin chronicle written for the centennial.

• 1445

  Monastery church consecrated.

• 1436

  Foundation stone of the monastery church laid.

• 1400

  Joined the Windesheim Congregation, first German monastery to do so.

• Founded as Augustinian Canons' monastery St. Marienwolde.

An ecumenical place of reflection, education, and encounter in a historic monastery setting.

• Conference and guest house

  Facilities for conferences, seminars, and group stays.

• Pilgrim hostel

  Currently under construction; overnight stays available in the main house.

1. 1Stiftung Kloster Frenswegen / Tagungs- und Gästehaus / Nordhorn - Homekloster-frenswegen.de
2. 2Kloster Frenswegen - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Kloster Frenswegen - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org