The convent was founded by Theoderich of Minden. A document of Louis the German mentions the convent. This document is dated October 14, 871. The church in Minden was likely participated in the foundation of this convent, but in a subordinate position. The inheritance of the bishop formed the basis of the foundation (Heineken, 50). A document for Wunstorf uses the expression "regulariter," and records that the "ancillae Christi" have the right "regulariter" to choose an abbess from among themselves. As Heineken notes, the language of the document only reveals that the right to elect their own abbess was regarded as a privilege of a regular congregation. Researchers can not say definitely if the community followed a particular monastic rule (Heineken, 97-98).
Wunstorf paid a tithe to the episcopal church in return for the bishop's protection of the convent's property (Heineken, 60).
The episcopal church continued to have an influence in the nuns' choice of an abbess.
Boehmer Regesta imperii I. Die Regesten des Kaiserreichs unter den Karolingern, ed. E. Muehlbacher. Vol. 1. Innsbruck, 1889.
More research necessary
