{"id":51091,"date":"2019-06-28T10:43:55","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T14:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=51091"},"modified":"2023-09-22T10:37:30","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T14:37:30","slug":"genealogy-101-church-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-101-church-records.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy 101: Church Records"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article \u2013 part of an ongoing \u201cIntroduction to Genealogy\u201d series \u2013 Gena Philibert-Ortega provides tips and links to find church records about your ancestor. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Church records are an alternative when other types of genealogical records, such as government-issued vital records, aren\u2019t available. However, while that\u2019s true, the term \u201cchurch record\u201d is somewhat vague. There is a reason for this vagueness. A church record could mean any number of documents depending on the time period, location, and the church your ancestor belonged to.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: San Miguel Chapel, built in 1610 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the oldest church structure in the U.S. Credit: Pretzelpaws; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On top of that, whether church records still exist for that denomination or religion also depends on that institution\u2019s archival practices, which can range from throwing old records away, storing them in an attic or janitor\u2019s closet, keeping them at a local church meeting house, or archiving them in a church-owned repository like an archive or university. The subject of \u201cchurch records\u201d is a vast one, so let\u2019s address some of the things you should consider as you search for these records.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Daily Missourian (Columbia, Missouri), 22 June 1917, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Learn More<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you identify your ancestor\u2019s religious community, it can be beneficial to learn a little bit about their beliefs and the records they kept. Not every Christian denomination is going to leave behind the same records, so knowing more about their history and beliefs can help you identify what they documented and the possible records that would name your ancestor.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget that congregations inserted information about events, activities, and members in local newspapers. Make sure when searching the historical newspapers on GenealogyBank that you take some time to peruse your ancestor\u2019s local newspaper for church news. You may find your ancestor named in an article or participating in church-related activities.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Michigan), 2 April 1913, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don\u2019t Assume<\/strong><\/p>\n

We often make assumptions about what genealogically related records might exist for our ancestor. That\u2019s especially easy to do when we don\u2019t take the time to learn more about our ancestor\u2019s era and religious community.<\/p>\n

Some researchers are surprised when I tell them that some churches, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), conducted censuses. Just like government censuses, these are great records for placing a family member in a specific location and time.<\/p>\n

Some churches publish periodicals, newspapers, and magazines that include obituaries and lists of member\u2019s names involved in various activities or achievements. These are important to locate and access in addition to official records.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, it\u2019s also possible that your ancestor\u2019s church records no longer exist. Fires, natural disasters, rodents, poor record keeping, or disinterest can all amount to a lack of records. So, don\u2019t assume what records a church may have or that they even have the records you need. Do your homework and make contact with those who know.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts), 27 November 1911, page 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Start Online<\/strong><\/p>\n

Consider starting with a familiar online resource before identifying other repositories that might have the church records you need. I recommend that you begin with the FamilySearch Catalog<\/a>. You can either conduct a Keyword search for the church you are looking for or you can search by the Place your ancestor lived. I suggest searches for the state, county, and city your ancestor lived in.<\/p>\n

The FamilySearch Catalog has church records under the subject categories: church history; church directories; and church records.<\/p>\n

Search the FamilySearch Research Wiki<\/a> for the state you are interested in and the word \u201cgenealogy\u201d (for example, California Genealogy). Those wiki pages include a list of \u201cWiki Topics\u201d with hyperlinks to records (on the right-hand side), one of which is Church.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to also search the FamilySearch Digital Library<\/a> and other digitized book websites, including Google Books<\/a> and Internet Archive<\/a>, for possible histories, cookbooks, and other church-related materials.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Tulsa World (Tulsa, Oklahoma), 10 March 1920, page 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Identify Repositories<\/strong><\/p>\n

What repositories might have the records you are looking for? That\u2019s a good question and the answer could be any number of places, including:<\/p>\n