Reformation period, especially by the rapid spread of the teachings of Zwingli, and for a time its privileges suffered some curtailment. The troubles and vicissitudes, however, through which it passed, were happily brought to an end by the wise rule of Abbot Benedict Sigrist in the 17th century, who is justly called the restorer of his monastery. Alienated possessions and rights were recovered by him and the good work he began was continued by his successors, under whom monastic discipline and learning have flourished with renewed vigour. The library, which is said to have contained over twenty thousand volumes and two hundred choice manuscripts, was unfortunately pillaged by the French in 1798. Ironically, in the spirit of learning and preservation of knowledge, the library contains to this day a complete set of the writings of Martin Luther. The abbey buildings were almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1729 but were rebuilt in a substantial, if not very beautiful, style and so remain to the present day. In 1873 a colony from Engelberg founded Conception Abbey, at Conception, Missouri in the United States; in 1882, Mount Angel Abbey was founded near what is now Mount Angel, Oregon, also in the United States. William Wordsworth wrote a poem about the abbey entitled "Engelberg, The Hill of Angels". Educational institutions of the monastery Since 1851, there exists the Boarding School of the Abbey Engelberg, which was first performed by a secular rector since 2009. 2001, the Academia Engelberg Foundation was founded. References and external links Abbey Engelberg Boarding School of the Abbey Engelberg Engelberg, The Hill of Angels Mount Angel Abbey (JPEG image), a daughter abbey to Engelberg Specific 1798 disestablishments in Europe States and territories established in 1236 Benedictine monasteries in Switzerland 1120 establishments in Europe Religious organizations established in the 1120s Former protectorates of Switzerland Christian monasteries established in the 12th century Engelberg Buildings and structures in Obwalden 12th-century establishments in Switzerland Imperial abbeys Cultural property of national significance in Obwalden