The community, dedicated to Saint Joseph, was founded in 1899 on the land of the Hof Wermelt, a farm given for the purpose by the Wermelt family, by the monks of Beuron Abbey. It was formally declared an abbey in 1904. The first abbot was ordained in 1906. In 1941 the community was expelled from Westphalia by order of the National Socialists, but the monks were able to return in 1946. In 1951 the community was able to establish a further monastery: Nütschau Priory (Kloster Nütschau) near Bad Oldesloe. The abbey is part of the Beuronese Congregation. As of 2007, the community numbers 48 monks.