This document discusses church records as a genealogical resource and provides guidance on locating relevant records. It begins by noting that church records were often the earliest records of life events like births, marriages, and deaths before civil registration. These records, as well as membership and financial records, can provide insight into an ancestor's religious affiliation. The document then offers tips on determining the relevant denomination or religion and discovering where those church's records may be located today, such as archives, libraries, or through online resources like FamilySearch.
2. Church Records
Church records can be a rich source of genealogical
information, but they are under utilized because of the
difficulties in locating them.
Before the establishment of government vital records,
churches recorded the deaths, births, marriages and
baptisms of their members. Of course, they still do.
Besides these life event records, churches also maintain
records of confirmations, memberships, meeting minutes,
and financial reports.
From church records you can discover how important
religion was to your ancestors.
If your ancestor was a minister, rabbi, priest or nun,
he/she might be listed in the church archives or history.
3. FIRST
Determine what religion or denomination the
family practiced.
This information might be in the family Bible,
published county history, a diary, on a
tombstone, or mentioned in a will. Where your
ancestors settled or where they came from can
provide clues as to which denomination you
need to look for.
Also, investigate which churches were very near
your ancestor’s home. People tended to attend
churches that were nearby.
8. SECOND
Discover if that church or temple kept records and where
those records are now. *Handout
Some denominations kept great records, others did not.
Check to see if churches melded together or split away
from each other.
And of course, like all records, they were subject to
destruction by fires, floods or “a big wind”.
Along with the handout of the location of church records,
many church records can be ordered on microfilm from
Family History Centers. www.familysearch.org and
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.a
(Library Catalog).
9. Example: Ohio Methodist records are kept in
an archive at Ohio Wesleyan University.
http://library.owu.edu/spuma.htm
10. Portrait of Rev. John H. Tagg found in the hallway of the United
Methodist Church in Pomfrey, New York.
