This nunnery was founded by a nun named Friduwi, according to an original document of Arnulf dated to August 16, 889. The foundation was based on Friduwi's entire inheritance. The convent was a family foundation, descendents of the foundress were to be accomodated within the community and abbesses were to be chosen from her kin (Hauck, 554). According to Heineken, this convent is one of the few founded at the initiative of the inhabitants of the community (34). According to Otto III's confirmation of Metelen, Friduwi gave property to the convent, which she then placed under the protection of the king (Heineken, 62). The nuns of the community retained the right of election (of the abbess?); the king and nobles installed the provost for the community with the consent of the nuns (Heineken, 62).

In the tenth century, Metelen had to protect its direct subordination to the king versus the bishop of Münster (Heineken, 59).

[1] Böhmer Regesta imperii I. Die Regesten des Kaiserreichs unter den Karolingern, ed. E. Muehlbacher. Vol. 1. Innsbruck, 1889.
[2]Westfaelische Urkundenbuch?

At Metelen the exercise of jurisdiction never lay in the hands of the abbess. Provosts exercised the jurisdictional authority. The king chose the provost for Metelen.