The Stain family expanded and developed their fief over the following centuries. They granted several important privileges including a guarantee that the citizens of the city couldn't be judged in foreign courts. They also sought to use the wealth of the city to become free Imperial Knights, to only owe loyalty and taxes to the Emperor. However, in 1550 the inheritance of Bernhard vom Stain was split into two pieces: the "burgschlossische" (called after the old knightly castle, the "Burgschloss") and the "steinhausische" half (called after the "Steinhaus" or new castle). In 1565 Heinrich vom Stain became Protestant and ordered his half of the town to convert. His brother in the "steinhausischen" half remained Catholic. The citizens of the city were therefore split over religion for centuries. The Niederstotzinger Church was used by both faiths until 1960.