For many regions of the world, the records associated with the ancestral place of worship are the backbone of genealogical research. Registers of baptism, marriage and burial are of great use prior to vital statistic registrations in Canada. In the early years of settlement, the Government passed laws which forbade certain groups from performing various services. This course will cover where to look for these registers and other religious records in Canada, what type of data you should expect to find, and how to evaluate what you have found. Information found can also provide stories that can be added to the family history.
Course Content
Module 1
Introduction to Canadian Religious Records
Why Church Records?
What Denomination?
Which Church?
Finding the Records
Examples of Reading Between the Lines
The Church Archives
Records in Private Hands
Records Which Have Disappeared
Church Records in Public Archives
Printed Books of Church Records
Module 2
Denominations In Canada
Introduction
Examples of Religious Groups
Roman Catholic
Lutherans
Church of England
Mennonites & Amish
Congregationalist
Baptist
Presbyterian
Reformed
Quakers (Society of Friends)
Methodist
Evangelical
United Brethren in Christ
Disciples of Christ (Church of Christ)
Brethren & Tunkers
Moravians
Irvingites
Plymouth Brethren
Adventists
Jews
The United Church of Canada Archives
Module 3
Baptismal Records
Introduction
Who could be baptized?
What will the records tell us?
Examples of What Records Can Tell Us
Presbyterian
Anglican
Roman Catholic
Lutherans
What difficulties do baptismal records present to researchers?
Example Involving Children
Where can I find a missing baptism?
Are records of Believers Baptism of any use to genealogists?
What about Quaker birth records?
Should we bother with Godparents?
Example Involving Godparents
Module 4
Marriages & Burials
Marriage Records
Far-flung Marriages
What will the marriage record tell us?
Examples of Marriage Records
What Are Banns?
Burials
Introduction
What will burial records tell us?
Examples from Burial Records
Cemeteries
Module 5
Other Records
Introduction
Minutes of Annual or Business Meetings
Financial Records
Confirmations< /dd>
Membership Lists
Records of Subgroups or Other Organizations
Parish Census
Notes & Remarks
Module 6
Finding Helpful Background Information
Introduction
Denominational Histories
Denominational Yearbooks or Annual Reports
Diocesan, Synod or Convention Histories
Congregational Histories
Regional Church Histories
Local Histories
Published Missionary Memoirs or Letters
Bibliographies
Histories of Religious Groups or Group Biographies
Finding These Books
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