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Wilhelm Loehe was born on February 8, 1808 in Fürth to middle-class
businessman Johann Loehe and Maria Barbara, the daughter of Mayor
Walthelm of Fürth. Wilhelm was eight years old when his father died,
leaving behind seven children. Their mother took over the family business.
She was a devout, loving woman with a pietistic bent who encouraged him
to study theology, and he attended the Latin school in Fürth and then the
Melanchthon School in Nürnberg. After graduation he studied theology and
completed his studies in Erlangen. A serious student, Loehe might have
quickly climbed the ladder of success had he conformed to the religious
trends of the day, but he was a man of strong personal conviction.
businessman Johann Loehe and Maria Barbara, the daughter of Mayor
Walthelm of Fürth. Wilhelm was eight years old when his father died,
leaving behind seven children. Their mother took over the family business.
She was a devout, loving woman with a pietistic bent who encouraged him
to study theology, and he attended the Latin school in Fürth and then the
Melanchthon School in Nürnberg. After graduation he studied theology and
completed his studies in Erlangen. A serious student, Loehe might have
quickly climbed the ladder of success had he conformed to the religious
trends of the day, but he was a man of strong personal conviction.
Many Lutheran pastors in Bavaria obliged Reformed Christians who belonged to the Lutheran
Church who wanted to receive the sacrament according to the Reformed ritual, even allowing the
taking of Holy Communion. The Landeskirche saw no difficulty with this, but Loehe did, and he
strongly opposed table fellowship between the two confessions. This caused controversy and the
Landeskirche board filed charges against the "Loehe circle", hoping for their removal from office.
However, it was ironed out and Loehe and his friends stayed.
Church who wanted to receive the sacrament according to the Reformed ritual, even allowing the
taking of Holy Communion. The Landeskirche saw no difficulty with this, but Loehe did, and he
strongly opposed table fellowship between the two confessions. This caused controversy and the
Landeskirche board filed charges against the "Loehe circle", hoping for their removal from office.
However, it was ironed out and Loehe and his friends stayed.
By then he had already started educating preachers for the German emigrants in North America.
Shoemaker Adam Ernst and weaver Georg Burger told him that they wanted to go to America and
preach. Loehe housed them in Neuendettelsau and undertook their education as chaplains and
teachers, and by July of 1842 they were ready to go. This was the beginning of Loehe's "Mission
Preparation Institute" which Friedrich Bauer later took over and turned it into the "Mission Institute."
Loehe and his friends started the "Society for Inner Mission in the Sense of the Lutheran Church" in
1849 to finance their ventures. Loehe published a spiritual guide book for use both at home in
Germany and in America.
Shoemaker Adam Ernst and weaver Georg Burger told him that they wanted to go to America and
preach. Loehe housed them in Neuendettelsau and undertook their education as chaplains and
teachers, and by July of 1842 they were ready to go. This was the beginning of Loehe's "Mission
Preparation Institute" which Friedrich Bauer later took over and turned it into the "Mission Institute."
Loehe and his friends started the "Society for Inner Mission in the Sense of the Lutheran Church" in
1849 to finance their ventures. Loehe published a spiritual guide book for use both at home in
Germany and in America.
In 1830, Loehe performed very well on his exams, but his trial sermon which was based entirely
upon the Lutheran doctrine of justification was considered "too mystical" by the rationalistic
examiner, and this branded him early on as a "mystic and pietist" which was not good for his future
career. Loehe was ordained to the pastoral office on July 25, 1831 in the St. Gumbertus Church in
Ansbach. He was then required to finish a five-year vicariat, during which time he was sent to twelve
separate locations. During the year he spent in Nürnberg, his sermons soon became renowned. After
his employment exams, he wished for a job in Erlangen or Nürnberg but the ecclesial authorities did
not want him having an influential city parish and instead shuffled him off to a country parish in
remote Neuendettelsau. He and his bride Helen Andreae made this their home and soon had four
children, three sons and one daughter. After Helen, eleven years his junior, died after a brief illness at
the age of 24 in 1843, Loehe never remarried. Their youngest son died a year after his mother, and
Loehe raised and educated the other three children on his own. He did not let it ruin him, however.
In 1845, he published three books about the Church. His collected works that have appeared in print
would grow to seven volumes printed as twelve books.
upon the Lutheran doctrine of justification was considered "too mystical" by the rationalistic
examiner, and this branded him early on as a "mystic and pietist" which was not good for his future
career. Loehe was ordained to the pastoral office on July 25, 1831 in the St. Gumbertus Church in
Ansbach. He was then required to finish a five-year vicariat, during which time he was sent to twelve
separate locations. During the year he spent in Nürnberg, his sermons soon became renowned. After
his employment exams, he wished for a job in Erlangen or Nürnberg but the ecclesial authorities did
not want him having an influential city parish and instead shuffled him off to a country parish in
remote Neuendettelsau. He and his bride Helen Andreae made this their home and soon had four
children, three sons and one daughter. After Helen, eleven years his junior, died after a brief illness at
the age of 24 in 1843, Loehe never remarried. Their youngest son died a year after his mother, and
Loehe raised and educated the other three children on his own. He did not let it ruin him, however.
In 1845, he published three books about the Church. His collected works that have appeared in print
would grow to seven volumes printed as twelve books.
Loehe's other big social project was the founding of the Deaconess Institute in Neuendettelsau in
1854. He was hoping that unmarried women in the countryside would find employment in caring for
the sick, the handicapped and the needy in rural areas. To this end, he founded the "Lutheran
Association for the Female Diaconate" in Neuendettelsau in 1853 which contained a Motherhouse
with its various schools and medical facilities. Many deaconesses were also employed in the care of
the wounded during war. Loehe died after a stroke on January 2, 1872. Written on his gravestone in
the Neuendettelsau cemetery are the words "I believe in the communion of saints."
1854. He was hoping that unmarried women in the countryside would find employment in caring for
the sick, the handicapped and the needy in rural areas. To this end, he founded the "Lutheran
Association for the Female Diaconate" in Neuendettelsau in 1853 which contained a Motherhouse
with its various schools and medical facilities. Many deaconesses were also employed in the care of
the wounded during war. Loehe died after a stroke on January 2, 1872. Written on his gravestone in
the Neuendettelsau cemetery are the words "I believe in the communion of saints."
Loehe is noted in Germany as for influencing the foundation of free Lutheran Churches in Nassau,
Prussia, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, and France. He arranged for several deaconesses to work
abroad, not only in North America but also in Russia, Estonia, and Bessarabia. In Germany the name
Wilhelm Loehe is connected mainly with the second-largest social institution in the whole country,
the Diakonie in Neuendettelsau. The Diakonie started with 60 female students who lived and worked
with the handicapped, sick and elderly. When Löhe died, eight more houses had sprung up next to
the parent branch. On January 2,1945, Allied bombs heavily damaged the hospital portion of the
mission house. Today the institution serve as hospitals, old peoples’ homes, schools, homes for the
handicapped and workshops. 1,500 people work here in Neuendettelsau, 5,200 more in branches all
over Bavaria. This makes it one of the biggest independent diocese in Germany.
Prussia, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, and France. He arranged for several deaconesses to work
abroad, not only in North America but also in Russia, Estonia, and Bessarabia. In Germany the name
Wilhelm Loehe is connected mainly with the second-largest social institution in the whole country,
the Diakonie in Neuendettelsau. The Diakonie started with 60 female students who lived and worked
with the handicapped, sick and elderly. When Löhe died, eight more houses had sprung up next to
the parent branch. On January 2,1945, Allied bombs heavily damaged the hospital portion of the
mission house. Today the institution serve as hospitals, old peoples’ homes, schools, homes for the
handicapped and workshops. 1,500 people work here in Neuendettelsau, 5,200 more in branches all
over Bavaria. This makes it one of the biggest independent diocese in Germany.
Aside from the Frankonian colonies in Michigan which Loehe founded, Loehe missionaries also
found their way to the great American West and began work among the Cheyenne at Deer Creek,
Wyoming. As of 1861, they held church services for the Indians and baptized three orphaned boys.
But in September, 1864 they had to move back to the Fort Laramie because of hostile Indians, and
this ended the Neuendettelsau Mission Indians.
found their way to the great American West and began work among the Cheyenne at Deer Creek,
Wyoming. As of 1861, they held church services for the Indians and baptized three orphaned boys.
But in September, 1864 they had to move back to the Fort Laramie because of hostile Indians, and
this ended the Neuendettelsau Mission Indians.