Heiligen-Geist-Stiftung

The Heiligen-Geist-Stiftung is a charitable foundation based in Uelzen, Lower Saxony, Germany, dedicated to eldercare. It is the oldest foundation in Uelzen, founded in 1321/22, and traces its origins to the endowment of the 'Rectorate of the Holy Spirit Chapel' on Lüneburger Straße by the church and council of the city. Originally there were two separate institutions, the 'Great' and the 'Little Holy Spirit'; they were merged into a single foundation in 1948 in the context of the German currency reform in order to keep both alive. From the Middle Ages onward, the foundation's core mission has been to maintain a home for people in need of help. The house was exempted from municipal taxes by the Uelzen city council as long as it was used for its original purpose. In the Middle Ages the hospital was run in a monastic style for the care of the old and sick, with nursing provided by Beguines, who are said to have also cared selflessly for plague victims in Uelzen. During World War II the home was moved to Brauerstraße 32. In 1966 the old building was abandoned and the newly built Pflegeheim Uelzen, Heiligen-Geist-Stift, was occupied at Waldstraße 9. The Heiligen-Geist-Stift continues the traditional task of eldercare according to the principles of Christian diakonia. Reflecting this historical development, the foundation's board still consists of the Protestant-Lutheran Provost of Uelzen and the chief administrative officer of the City of Uelzen. In 1973 the foundation received the legal status of an independent church foundation under civil law (selbstständige kirchliche Stiftung des Bürgerlichen Rechts) pursuant to §20 of the Lower Saxony Foundation Act, granted by the Lüneburg regional administration. Today it operates as a modern care facility while preserving its centuries-old charitable purpose.

The Heiligen-Geist-Stiftung is the oldest foundation in Uelzen, Germany, founded in 1321/22. Its foundation charters are not preserved, but documents in the city archive from 1321 indicate the endowment of the 'Rectorate of the Holy Spirit Chapel' on Lüneburger Straße in Uelzen by the church and council of the city. The first provost of Uelzen, Provost Raven, endowed a prebend in the chapel. From these funds a house was purchased and later converted into a hospital. Since then, the foundation's essential task has always been to maintain a home for people in need of help. The house was exempted from tax by the Uelzen city council as long as it was used for its original purpose. In the Middle Ages the hospital was run in a monastic style for the care of the old and sick, with nursing provided by Beguines. During the plague, the Beguines are said to have selflessly taken over the care of plague victims in the city of Uelzen. Originally there were two institutions, the 'Great' and the 'Little Holy Spirit'. In order to keep both foundations alive, they had to be merged into one foundation on the occasion of the currency reform in 1948. During World War II the home was moved to Brauerstraße 32. In 1966 the old building was abandoned and the newly built Pflegeheim Uelzen, Heiligen-Geist-Stift, was occupied at Waldstraße 9. The Heiligen-Geist-Stift continues the traditional task of eldercare according to the principles of Christian diakonia. From this historical development stems the current composition of the foundation board, which consists of the Protestant-Lutheran Provost of Uelzen and the chief administrative officer of the City of Uelzen. In 1973 the Heiligen-Geist-Stiftung received the legal status of an independent church foundation under civil law (selbstständige kirchliche Stiftung des Bürgerlichen Rechts) pursuant to §20 of the Lower Saxony Foundation Act, granted by the Lüneburg regional administration.

• 1973

  The foundation receives the legal status of an independent church foundation under civil law pursuant to §20 of the Lower Saxony Foundation Act.

• 1966

  The old building is abandoned and the newly built Pflegeheim Uelzen, Heiligen-Geist-Stift, is occupied at Waldstraße 9.

• 1948

  The 'Great' and 'Little Holy Spirit' foundations are merged into one foundation due to the currency reform.

• Foundation of the 'Rectorate of the Holy Spirit Chapel' in Uelzen by the church and council; Provost Raven endows a prebend.

A historic Christian eldercare foundation continuing centuries-old diaconal service in Uelzen.

• Pflegeheim Uelzen, Heiligen-Geist-Stift

  A nursing home at Waldstraße 9 in Uelzen, opened in 1966, continuing the foundation's eldercare mission.

1. 1Heiligen-Geist-Stiftungde.wikipedia.org
2. 2Heiligen-Geist-Stiftungwikidata.org
3. 3Website Heiligen-Geist-Stiftheiligen-geist-stiftung.de