Oelinghausen Monastery
Christian·Germany·active (religious community), museum (garden museum), parish church (former monastery church)·12th century
Oelinghausen Monastery, founded around 1174, began as a double monastery before evolving into a Premonstratensian nunnery. Despite periods of financial difficulty and transformation into a secular canoness foundation, it eventually reverted to the Premonstratensian order. Dissolved in 1804, its church remains a parish church, and the restored buildings now house a religious order, with a monastery garden museum also established.
Key Facts
- ›Founded around 1174 as a double monastery.
- ›Transitioned to a Premonstratensian nunnery.
- ›Converted to a secular canoness foundation in the 17th century.
- ›Dissolved during secularization in 1804.
- ›The monastery church, dedicated to St. Peter and the Virgin Mary, is now a parish church.
- ›Restored monastery buildings have been home to the Sisters of Saint Mary Magdalene Postel since 1992.
Gothic, Baroque
KöLsche Madonna, Organ With Components From the 16th Century, Monastery Garden Museum
Siegenand Von Basthusen, Hathewigis, Manfred Wolf, Edeltraud Klueting, Philipp Von Heinsberg, Adolf I., Bruno Iv., Engelbert Von Berg, Pope Honorius Iii, Simon Von Tecklenburg, Adolf I. Von Dassel, Hermann Ii. Von Ravensberg, Gottfried Ii. Von Arnsberg, Conradus Von Allagen, Lambert, Dean of Paderborn, Radolf, Archbishop Dietrich Ii. Von Moers, Gebhard Truchsess, Kaspar Von FüRstenberg, Ottilia Von FüRstenberg, Bishop Dietrich of Paderborn, Pope Paul V, Fabio Chigi, Pope Alexander Vii, Nikolaus Engel, Theodor Sauter, Friedrich Georg Pape, Maria Balduin Neesen, Johann Von Nagel, Baron Von FüRstenberg of Herdringen
- Founding Around 1174
- Confirmation of Foundation By Philipp Von Heinsberg
- Exemption From HüSten Parish
- Release From Archdiaconal Jurisdiction
- Securing Papal Confirmation From Pope Honorius Iii
- Shift In Paternity To Wedinghausen Monastery
- Plague Outbreaks In the 15th Century
- Soest Feud
- Visitation By Archbishop Adolf Iii of Schaumburg
- Occupation By Troops Under Gebhard Truchsess
- Transformation Into A Canoness Foundation
- Ruling Against the Canoness Foundation By Nuncio Fabio Chigi
- Dissolution During Secularization
- Establishment of the Independent Parish of St. Petri Oelinghausen
About Oelinghausen Monastery
Oelinghausen Monastery, situated in the Holzen district of Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a historic monastic site with a complex past.
History and Development
Traditional accounts date the founding of Oelinghausen Monastery to around 1174, with Siegenand von Basthusen and his wife Hathewigis cited as founders. Initially established as a double monastery where canons and canonesses resided separately, it later transitioned into a Premonstratensian nunnery. Historical research has also proposed an earlier founding period and a potential establishment as a daughter house of Scheda Monastery.
The monastery received significant support from the Archbishops of Cologne and various nobles, accumulating properties and rights. Its economic activities included managing a substantial manorial economy, with agriculture, forestry, workshops, and mills. The convent itself was prestigious, attracting nuns from noble families.
However, Oelinghausen faced periods of crisis, including financial difficulties, the impact of the plague, and the Soest Feud. In the late 16th century, it underwent a transformation into a secular canoness foundation, a status formalized in 1618. This change was driven by internal weaknesses and a desire for reform, though it led to disputes with the Premonstratensian order.
During the Thirty Years’ War, the canonesses repeatedly fled. Following a legal battle, the monastery was forcibly reoccupied by Premonstratensians and repopulated by canonesses from Rumbeck. Further renovations and embellishments occurred in the 18th century.
Dissolution and Later Use
The monastery's existence was threatened by the rise of the Catholic Enlightenment, leading to internal divisions and the deposition of its provost. In 1804, Oelinghausen Monastery was dissolved during secularization. Its church, dedicated to Saint Peter and the Virgin Mary, has since served as a parish church.
The restored monastery buildings have been home to the Sisters of Saint Mary Magdalene Postel since 1992. A monastery garden museum was established in 2005, and the site continues to be managed by the Friends of Oelinghausen Monastery Association, which also organizes tours. The church remains a venue for concerts, and its Baroque apostle figures were recognized as a Monument of the Month in 2014.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Oelinghausen Monastery founded?
Traditional accounts place the founding of Oelinghausen Monastery around 1174. However, some historical research suggests the actual founding may have occurred earlier, between 1152 and 1174, with initial male religious presence before nuns joined.
What was the initial structure of Oelinghausen Monastery?
Oelinghausen Monastery was initially established as a double monastery, meaning both canons and canonesses lived within the same complex in separate quarters. This arrangement was common in the early Premonstratensian order but later mandated separation.
What happened to Oelinghausen Monastery in 1804?
In 1804, Oelinghausen Monastery was dissolved as part of the secularization process following the transfer of the Duchy of Westphalia to Hesse-Darmstadt. Its estate was subsequently leased and later purchased.
What is the current use of the Oelinghausen Monastery buildings?
Since 1992, the restored monastery buildings have been occupied by the Sisters of Saint Mary Magdalene Postel. A monastery garden museum has also been established in recent years.
What is notable about the monastery church?
The monastery church, dedicated to Saint Peter and the Virgin Mary, dates primarily from the 14th century and is predominantly Gothic in style. Its interior was redesigned in the Baroque style in the 18th century. It houses the Kölsche Madonna statue from the early 13th century and an organ with 16th-century components.
Related Monasteries
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is a historically significant industrial city in Saxony, Germany, known for its textile manufacturing and innovation. Founded around a Benedictine monastery in the 12th century, it grew into a major economic center, even being dubbed "the Saxon Manchester." The city experienced substantial development and changes throughout its history, including a period from 1953 to 1990 when it was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt.
Plauen
Plauen is a historic town in Saxony, Germany, known as the center of the German embroidery and lace industry, with products protected under the "Plauen Lace" label. Founded by Slavic settlers in the 12th century, it has a complex history, including periods under Bohemian and Saxon rule, significant industrial growth in the late 19th century, and a role during the Nazi era and the German Democratic Republic. The city is also recognized for its impressive Elster Viaduct.
Sittichenbach Abbey
Sittichenbach Abbey, also known as Sichem Abbey, is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1141 and dissolved during the Reformation in 1540. After centuries of secular use, it was returned to the Cistercian order following German reunification in 1990. The restored abbey now functions as a retreat center and hotel, featuring a re-built chapel for daily prayer and an area for meditative walks.