Thereafter the monastery began to decline to such an extent that under Abbot Conrad von Gleichen (1454–74), who was a married layman, the whole community consisted of only three men, who divided the possessions of the abbey among themselves.
Dopo una riforma completa dell'abbazia nel 1477, ad opera dell'abate Adam von Eschweiler della congregazione di Bursfelde, Werden riprese la propria attività a pieno ritmo sino al 1803.