The year 1609 was a watershed in the municipality's history. Altenmünster now only held patronage rights at Saint Philip's and Saint James's Parish Church; the convent could still suggest priests and bellringers, who had to be confirmed by the Archbishop. Furthermore, in spiritual matters, the archiepiscopal vicariate general was responsible, while in worldly matters Heidesheim was under an Electoral deputy. The offices of monasterial "Vogt" and Electoral "Amtmann" were forgone. Eventually, the Electoral Chamber gave out Windeck Castle – until then the "Amtmann’s" seat – as a heritable asset.