Holy Spirit (Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm)

In 1703 the Franciscans built a hospice on the upper side of the main square in Pfaffenhofen. The monastery and church was built between 1716 and 1719 in the baroque style by an unknown architect. Below the choir of the church is a crypt, which was used to store grain and ammunition during the Coalition Wars. The monastery was dissolved in 1802 as part of the secularisation of Bavaria. The town of Pfaffenhofen acquired the site and set up the municipal hospital, which had previously stood on the site of the present-day town hall. The church served as a place of worship for the patients of the hospital. In 1900 the derelict north tower was demolished and a new tower was erected on the south façade, in accordance with Johann Baptist Schott's architectural plans. In 1959 the arcade porch of the southern side of the building was built and in 1974 the church received a new organ.^[1]

Latterly the municipal building complex served as a retirement home until 1997, when this was shut down. The residents at the time were relocated to premises outside of the town centre, which were the site of the municipal hospital from 1862 to 1984.^[2] In 2015 the church was renovated for €725,000. During the eight-month construction period the roof truss was secured and a new coat of paint was applied to the façade.^[3] Today the church is used for worship, weddings and concerts. During Advent and Christmastime a magnificent nativity scene is displayed, some of whose figurines are more than 200 years old. The crib, which is altered many times between the first day of Advent and Candlemas, is part of the Pfaffenhofen Krippenweg.^[1]