Stephansstift
A Hanover-based Protestant diaconal foundation founded in 1869, active in youth and elderly care, vocational training and further education, and part of the Dachstiftung Diakonie since 2011.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
The Stephansstift is a Protestant diaconal foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts and kirchliche Stiftung) founded in 1869 and headquartered in Hannover-Kleefeld, Germany. It is a member of the Diakonisches Werk in Niedersachsen and works across a range of social fields, with particular emphasis on youth welfare, elderly care, and vocational education, further education and training. Since 1 January 2011 it has been merged with the Diakonische Heime Kästorf within the umbrella organisation Dachstiftung Diakonie. The foundation grew out of the Evangelischer Verein zu Hannover, which had been founded in 1865 by figures including Gerhard Uhlhorn, Theodor Lohmann, Julius Freytag and Karl August Grote. The association organised lecture series to raise funds for diaconal work, and in 1866 its chaplain Freytag founded the Hannoversches Sonntagsblatt, whose revenues supported the association and its diaconal institutions. At the association's members' meeting on 9 November 1868, the creation of a Brüderhaus (brothers' house) was planned, driven by the need to train Lutheran deacons locally rather than relying on other united regional churches. Following Freytag's December 1868 appeal, five young men initially responded, and at Ascension 1869 the Stephansstift was founded in a rented flat on Breite Straße in Hannover. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, Freytag called for a dedicated foundation site outside the city, modelled on the Rauhes Haus, combining deacon training with a rescue home for neglected boys. The factory owner Konsul Schwemann donated a narrow meadow behind Kleefeld, which was quickly enlarged through further purchases. The first building on the site was inaugurated in 1872, financed by the regional church collection and built with help from craftsmen of the Jünglingsverein. Under the new director Ludolf Wilhelm Fricke, appointed in 1873, the foundation expanded with land acquisitions and new buildings such as the Knabenhaus (1874) and the Siechenhaus for men (1877). The Stiftskirche was built in 1892 to designs by Rudolph Eberhard Hillebrand and consecrated three years later, financed by a large aristocratic donation, with all stained-glass windows created by the Alexander and Otto Linnemann glass-painting studio in Frankfurt. By 1897 the foundation comprised around 350 brothers and 100 school-age plus 50 school-leaver boys; Pastor Paul Oehlkers became director that year. At Christmas 1900 the first Brüdertag was held by 25 visiting deacons, officially founding the Brüderschaft des Stephansstiftes. In the 20th century the foundation continued to expand its training and care operations. A second pastor's post was created in 1901 and a third in 1910; new teaching workshops (carpentry, bakery, etc.) and homes were added, including a Lehrlingswohnheim in 1902 and a Hilfsschule for "Schwachbegabte" (today the Ludolf-Wilhelm-Fricke-Schule). The Brüderhaus was inaugurated in 1913. During the First World War parts of the facilities were used as military hospitals. From 1922 Pastor Johannes Wolff took over as director, when around 400 boys, 130 old men, 84 brothers and 241 employees lived and worked on the main site, and the foundation also operated facilities elsewhere in the city and in the suburbs, such as Gut Kronsberg. Today the Stephansstift continues its social and educational mission as part of the Dachstiftung Diakonie.
History
The Stephansstift originated from the Evangelischer Verein zu Hannover, founded in 1865 by Gerhard Uhlhorn, Theodor Lohmann, Julius Freytag and Karl August Grote, among others. The association held lecture series to raise funds for diaconal work. In 1866 the association's chaplain Freytag founded the Hannoversches Sonntagsblatt, whose revenues provided him a fixed salary and informed readers about the association and Hannover's diaconal institutions. At the members' meeting on 9 November 1868, the creation of a Brüderhaus was planned, motivated by the need to train Lutheran deacons locally rather than relying on other united regional churches. The theologian Helmut Grütter described this need shortly after the meeting in his essay "Wir müssen Brüder haben", arguing that it was poor national economy to export raw material and buy it back expensively as a finished product from a neighbouring people, and that they needed brothers grown from their own people, nourished with their food, standing in the Lutheran confession, and willing to serve the needy without their own will. After Freytag's December 1868 appeal, five young men initially registered, and at Ascension 1869 the Stephansstift was founded in a rented flat on Breite Straße in Hannover. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, Freytag published an appeal in the Hannoversches Sonntagsblatt pointing to the need for a dedicated foundation site outside the city gates. Modelled on the Rauhes Haus, deacon training was to be combined with a rescue home for neglected boys, which was not possible within the city. At Freytag's request, the factory owner Konsul Schwemann donated a narrow meadow behind Kleefeld to the Stephansstift. The plot was quickly enlarged through further favourable purchases of neighbouring land. In 1872 the first house on the site was inaugurated and opened. The building (today's main house) was erected with the proceeds of the regional church collection and with the help of master craftsmen from the Jünglingsverein. After opening, the prospective deacons lived there together with twelve boys, a gardener, a cook and the director's family. In subsequent years the Stephansstift expanded under the new director Ludolf Wilhelm Fricke (1840–1899), appointed in 1873. Alongside numerous land purchases (arable land, forest and meadows) cultivated by the foundation, new buildings followed, such as the Knabenhaus built in 1874 with the Siechenhaus for men added in 1877 (an old term for today's elderly care homes). In the following years, further new buildings arose in connection with the rapid expansion of the Stephansstift. The newly established work areas of the Knabenhof and the Siechenhaus were intended to provide a practical training field for the young deacons alongside theoretical instruction. About half of the fully trained brothers, as the deacons were called (and in part still are), remained as "Heimbrüder" in the Stephansstift and were entrusted with new tasks there. The other half were sent as so-called "Sendbrüder" to the diaconal institutions of the regional church to work there. In 1892 the Stiftskirche was built to plans by Rudolph Eberhard Hillebrand and consecrated three years later. The construction was financed by a large donation from the nobility. All stained-glass windows were created in 1892 by the glass-painting studio of Alexander Linnemann and Otto Linnemann from Frankfurt. In 1897, when the foundation comprised around 350 brothers and 100 school-age as well as 50 school-leaver boys, Pastor Paul Oehlkers (1862–1922) became director of the Stephansstift. He is buried in the Stephansstift cemetery, and his grave monument still exists. At Christmas 1900 the first Brüdertag was held by 25 visiting deacons. On that day the "Brüderschaft des Stephansstiftes" was officially founded. Previously there had been talk of a brotherhood, but it had not yet had an official framework. In 1901 a second pastor's post was established in the foundation, and in 1910 a third. With the expansion of the foundation came new teaching workshops (carpentry, bakery, etc.) for the school-leaver boys as well as homes. Thus in 1902, for example, the Lehrlingswohnheim for apprentices employed in the institution's workshops was created. In addition, a Hilfsschule for "Schwachbegabte" was founded (today's Ludolf-Wilhelm-Fricke-Schule). In 1913 the Brüderhaus was inaugurated. During the First World War the facilities of the Stephansstift were partly used as military hospitals. From 1922 Pastor Johannes Wolff (1884–1977) took over responsibility as director. At that time about 400 boys, 130 old men, 84 brothers and 241 employees lived and worked on the main site of the foundation. But the foundation did not develop only in Kleefeld; it also had facilities in the rest of the city area and in the suburbs (for example the Gut Kronsberg). The history continues into the 20th century and, from 1 January 2011, the Stephansstift was merged with the Diakonische Heime Kästorf in the Dachstiftung Diakonie.
- 2011
On 1 January, Stephansstift merged with Diakonische Heime Kästorf in the Dachstiftung Diakonie.
- 1922
Pastor Johannes Wolff takes over as director; around 400 boys, 130 old men, 84 brothers and 241 employees on the main site.
- 1913
Brüderhaus inaugurated.
- 1910
Third pastor's post established.
- 1902
Lehrlingswohnheim for apprentices created; Hilfsschule for "Schwachbegabte" founded (today's Ludolf-Wilhelm-Fricke-Schule).
- 1901
Second pastor's post established.
- 1900
First Brüdertag held at Christmas by 25 visiting deacons; Brüderschaft des Stephansstiftes officially founded.
- 1897
Pastor Paul Oehlkers becomes director; foundation comprises around 350 brothers and 150 boys.
- 1892
Stiftskirche built to plans by Rudolph Eberhard Hillebrand; consecrated three years later.
- 1877
Siechenhaus for men added to the Knabenhaus.
Products and positioning
A Protestant diaconal foundation providing social welfare, elderly and youth care, and vocational education in Lower Saxony, rooted in 19th-century Lutheran deacon training.
Youth welfare services
Residential and educational services for children and young people, rooted in the historic Knabenhaus and rescue home.
Elderly care services
Care homes and services for the elderly, rooted in the historic Siechenhaus.
Vocational training and education
Training workshops and schools for young people, including the Ludolf-Wilhelm-Fricke-Schule.
Further education and continuing training
Programmes for professional and personal development.
Diaconal community services
Broader diaconal work as a member of the Diakonisches Werk in Niedersachsen.
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