Philipp Jakop Spener

Frankfurt's Leading Pastor in the 17th Century
The Spenerhaus is named after the famous Lutheran theologian Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705). For 20 years from 1666-1686 Spener had served as Chief Pastor to Frankfurt's Lutheran Church thus making him the most important pastor of the town.

Father of Pietism
In Frankfurt Spener developed his ideas of reformation with great impact on the Lutheran Church. Spener is also called "Father of Pietism". He was close to the popular revivalistic movement and tried to combine the idea behind it with the Orthodox Lutheran Church.

Deaconry and Laity
Due to Spener's influence social service and participation of laity became a major point of Lutheran Church work.