Francke Foundations

The Francke Foundations (Franckesche Stiftungen), also known as Glauchasche Anstalten were founded in 1695 in Halle, Germany as a Christian, social and educational work by August Hermann Francke

The Francke Foundations are today a non-profit educational organization housed in a complex of historic buildings. The Francke Foundations includes three kindergartens, a children’s creativity centre, four schools, a House of Generations, a youth workshop, a bible centre, traditional commercial enterprises, archives, libraries, museums, and university and non-university research facilities. More than 4,000 people learn, teach, work and live in the Francke Foundations.

The Francke Foundations have been on the German proposal list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

A pastor and professor in Halle, Francke began to take an interest, not just in giving to the poor every Thursday, the town's alms-giving day, but also in educating them in the principles of Christianity. His attempts, including paying for the children's schooling, made little impact.

In 1695, after receiving seven 50-cent pieces as a contribution to the poor, Francke thought, "Here is a goodly capital to work with; I must do a great work with this. I will found a school for the poor with it." The children were taught by students from the University. With the school gaining a strong reputation, local residents started sending their children to this school.

In the spring of 1695, Francke founded the Paedagogium, a school for higher education for members of nobility and middle class. In 1697, he added a Latin school (Latina).

In 1698, Francke started building the Orphanage for boys. Finished in 1701, it was a lavish building compared to comparable facilities. In the tympanum of the Orphanage, which is decorated with two eagles rising up to the sun, is written (Isaiah 40:31) “But those who wait for the Lord’s help, find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.”

A visitor to the institution, Baron Canstein, wrote to a member of the Prussian government in 1706 that his visit was so pleasant and so quickening to his faith that he could not deny himself the privilege of describing the home - "a kind of little world, yet all in harmony and a state of great efficiency." The history of the school was uncommon in that it had not been fostered by government patronage but was built, and continued, through reliance on faith. "Professor Francke has been emboldened to go on with this work, beginning it without capital, and only expecting that God would provide from day to day." Francke did not ask the assistance of any man but received from day to day what was required to pay the workmen and buy all the materials. "He began with nothing; he never was beforehand with his means, yet he received so much, that though venturing to build of brick and stone, and in an expensive style of finish, he was not in arrears for this work."