Cameroon Church Records

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Cameroon

Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Cameroon, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources and Websites

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Cameroon, index & images ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Africa, index & images ($)

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Cameroon , index & images ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Africa, index & images ($)

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index & images ($)

Historical Background

Christianity, Islam and Traditionalist are the three main religions in Cameroon. Approximately 70 percent of the population is at least nominally Christian. The Christian population is divided between Roman Catholics (32.4 percent of the total population), Protestants (30.3 percent), and other Christian denominations (including Jehovah's Witnesses) 6 percent.

Information Recorded in the Records

Different denominations, different time periods, and practices of different record keepers will effect how much information can be found in the records. This outline will show the types of details which might be found (best case scenario):

Baptisms

In Catholic and Anglican records, children were usually baptized a few days after birth, and therefore, the baptism record proves date of birth. Other religions, such as Baptists, baptized at other points in the member's life. Baptism registers might give:

baptism date the infant's name parents' names father's occupation

status of legitimacy occasionally, names of grandparents names of witnesses or godparents, who may be relatives

birth date and place the family's place of residence death information, as an added note or signified by a cross

Marriages

Marriage registers can give:

the marriage date the names of the bride and groom indicate whether the bride and groom were single or widowed their ages

birth dates and places for the bride and groom their residences their occupations

birthplaces of the bride and groom parents' names (after 1800) the names of previous spouses and their death dates names of witnesses, who might be relatives.

Burials

Burial registers may give:

the name of the deceased the date and place of death or burial the deceased's age place of residence

cause of death the names of survivors, especially a widow or widower deceased's birth date and place parents' names, or at least the father's name

How to Find Records

Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Watch for digitized copies of church records to be added to the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:

a. Click on the records of Cameroon.

b. Click on Places within Cameroon and a list of towns will appear.

c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.

d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. . The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

Writing for Records

You will probably need to write to or email the national archives, the diocese, or local parish priests to find records. See French Letter Writing Guide or Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

• Maps.me Church Listing for Cameroon

Catholic Church Records

Writing to a Local Parish

Earlier records can be held at the diocese, with more recent records still kept in the local parish. To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a diocese or local parish, consult:

• The Catholic Directory: Cameroon

Historical Background

The Catholic Church in Cameroon is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. There are almost ten million Catholics in the Republic of Cameroon, 38.4% of the population, in 24 Dioceses.[1] There are 1,350 priests and 2,600 men and women in religious orders.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records

Online Records

Online information is available to current members, for deceased members and immediate family members who are still living. Sign in to FamilySearch and then select Family Tree in the drop-down menu.

Historical Background

Total Church Membership: 2,125. Congregations: 13.
A few Church members lived in Cameroon representing various health organizations in the 1980s and earlier. In 1993, Cameroon president Paul Biya approved the Church's request for legal recognition. At the time, two missionary couples from Canada were serving in the country. Before the government granted recognition, about 30 people had been baptized and another 60 investigators were attending Sunday meetings.Cameroon is part of the Brazzaville Congo Mission.

Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Cameroon

Baptist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Cameroon

Eastern Orthodox Church Records

Dioceses and Archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and of All Africa

Cameroon is included in the Archdiocese of Cameroon.

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Eastern Orthodox churches in Cameroon

Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Jehovah's Witnesses churches in Cameroon

Lutheran Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Lutheran churches in Cameroon

Methodist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Cameroon

Nazarene Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Nazarene churches in Cameroon

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Cameroon

Presbyterian Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Presbyterian churches in Cameroon

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Cameroon

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