New Caledonia Church Records

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New Caledonia

Church Records

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

Online Resources and Websites

• New Caledonia Civil Registration and Parish Registers, 1823-1908, index & images.

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, New Caledonia, index & images ($)

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages New Caledonia,, index & images ($)

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials at Findmypast - index & images ($)

Historical Background

The predominant religion is Christianity; half of the population is Roman Catholic, including most of the Europeans, Uveans, and Vietnamese and half of the Melanesian and Polynesian minorities. Roman Catholicism was introduced by French colonists. The island also has numerous Protestant churches, of which the Free Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands have the largest number of adherents; their memberships are almost entirely Melanesian. Protestantism gained ground in the late 20th century and continues to expand.

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 New Caledonia.

b. Click on Places within New Caledonia 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 for help with composing letters.

• Google Maps search results for churches in New Caledonia

Catholic Church Records

Dioceses of the Catholic Church in Oceania (including Nouméa diocese)

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: New Caledonia

Historical Background

Roman Catholicism was introduced by French colonists. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nouméa is the Metropolitan Archdiocese in New Caledonia.

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

Church activity in New Caledonia began in the 1950s as a few Tahitian members migrated to work in a nickel smelter. They were organized into the Noumea Branch (a small congregation) on 21 October 1961, however, visas for missionaries were not obtained until 1967. On 15 July 1968, the first two missionaries arrived.

In June 1975, administration over the island group was transferred to the Fiji Suva Mission, and more progress was realized. The Noumea Branch was divided, and the small Church building was enlarged. In July 1978, the Tontouta Branch was organized.

In 2012 the Noumea New Caledonia Stake was organized. Also in 2012, the New Caledonia island group was transferred from the Fiji Suva Mission to the Vanuatu Port Vila Mission. Total Church Membership: 2,440. Congregations: 9.

Assembly of God Church Records

Writing for Records

• Directory for Assembly of God Churches

Evangelical Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Evangelical churches in New Caledonia

Eglise evangélique en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Îles Loyauté
Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands (EENCIL)
8 rue Fernande Leriche, Vallée du Génie
Boite Postale 277
Nouméa
New Caledonia, Ocenania

Telephone: +687 283 166
Fax: +687 263 898, 106
Address-No.: 1422 / 5070

Eglise evangelique libre
Free Evangelical Church
Carcopino 3
B.P. 568
New Caledonia
98845 Noumea
New Caledonia, Ocenania

Telephone: +687 35 40 83
Address-No.: 1423/5071

Historical Background

The Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands was formed in 1958, the denomination has announced its 50th anniversary in 2008. The London Missionary Society started missions work in the 18th century. At the turn of the 19th century the London Missionary Society gave way to the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society. The church currently has 90 parishes and 100 house fellowships with 30,000 members. The church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and has relationships with the Maói Protestant Church, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu.

This church is the fruit of the work of two mission bodies: the London Missionary Society (LMS) and the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society. From the very first contact of the LMS with the Pacific in 1779 in Tahiti, an in-depth effort was made to form Polynesians for the propagation of the gospel. Native agencies were set up in Samoa and the Cook Islands, from where Polynesian evangelists went to evangelize the islands of the South Pacific. They began working in what are now New Caledonia and the Loyalty Isles from 1841 onwards, well before the arrival of the first missionary from the Paris Missionary Society in 1902. During this period the Protestant Church in New Caledonia depended first on the LMS and was led subsequently by the Paris Mission. In 1958 a division occurred which resulted in the creation of two churches one of which, the Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Isles, became autonomous in 1969.

The Free Evangelical Church was formed as a result of the split in the Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. Its leader was Raymond Chaelemagne a missionary in the Kanak people. The Paris Missions Society requested him to return to Paris, but numerous teachers and supporters requested him to stay. This created the split. It has 74 parishes and 2,000 members. Reconciliation with The Evangelical Church in New Caledonia began in 1992.

Baptist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in New Caledonia

Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records

Writing for Records

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

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in New Caledonia