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Canada Church Records: Difference between revisions
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Church records are crucial for pre-Confederation research. Since civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics in most provinces until after 1867, church records are the major information source before this date. Church records continued after civil registration began in the 1860s or later but often are not as accessible after that date. For civil registration of birth, death, and marriage records See the "[[Canadian Vital Records (KP)|Vital Records]]" section of this outline. | Church records are crucial for pre-Confederation research. Since civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics in most provinces until after 1867, church records are the major information source before this date. Church records continued after civil registration began in the 1860s or later but often are not as accessible after that date. For civil registration of birth, death, and marriage records See the "[[Canadian Vital Records (KP)|Vital Records]]" section of this outline. | ||
=== General Historical Background === | === General Historical Background === | ||
Church records began in Canada in the 1620s in Quebec with French Catholic records. These early records were kept according to a 16th-century French law. English-language church records begin in 1749 in Nova Scotia with Church of England records. Canada was dominated by the French until 1763, so most Protestant records begin much later. | Church records began in Canada in the 1620s in Quebec with French Catholic records. These early records were kept according to a 16th-century French law. English-language church records begin in 1749 in Nova Scotia with Church of England records. Canada was dominated by the French until 1763, so most Protestant records begin much later. | ||
The Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church (also called Church of England or Protestant Episcopal Church) had government preference in early times. | The Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church (also called Church of England or Protestant Episcopal Church) had government preference in early times. | ||
Until 1793, the British colonial government in the Canadas (present-day Ontario and Quebec) recognized only marriages performed by clergy of the Catholic and Anglican faiths. This law was gradually relaxed to permit marriages by civil authorities and by ministers of other major religions and was finally abolished in 1858. | Until 1793, the British colonial government in the Canadas (present-day Ontario and Quebec) recognized only marriages performed by clergy of the Catholic and Anglican faiths. This law was gradually relaxed to permit marriages by civil authorities and by ministers of other major religions and was finally abolished in 1858. | ||
'''Baptists and Congregationalists''' from New England were in Nova Scotia by 1760. | '''Baptists and Congregationalists''' from New England were in Nova Scotia by 1760. | ||
'''Methodists''' from Yorkshire came to Nova Scotia in the 1770s, and many of the American Loyalists and "late Loyalists" who came to Canada beginning in the 1780s were Methodists. | '''Methodists''' from Yorkshire came to Nova Scotia in the 1770s, and many of the American Loyalists and "late Loyalists" who came to Canada beginning in the 1780s were Methodists. | ||
Some Baptists also came with the Loyalist migration. | Some Baptists also came with the Loyalist migration. | ||
There were '''Lutheran''' congregations in Nova Scotia by 1772 and in Upper Canada (Ontario) by 1784. | There were '''Lutheran''' congregations in Nova Scotia by 1772 and in Upper Canada (Ontario) by 1784. | ||
By the early 19th century the Church of Scotland had come to Canada, along with some "secessionist" offshoots. Those branches of Presbyterianism merged in 1875 to form the original Presbyterian Church in Canada. At the 1891 census, the Presbyterian Church in Canada was the largest Protestant denomination. It remained so until the 1925 United Church merger. | By the early 19th century the Church of Scotland had come to Canada, along with some "secessionist" offshoots. Those branches of Presbyterianism merged in 1875 to form the original Presbyterian Church in Canada. At the 1891 census, the Presbyterian Church in Canada was the largest Protestant denomination. It remained so until the 1925 United Church merger. | ||
For more information about major churches in Canada, look in: | For more information about major churches in Canada, look in: | ||
''Canadian Almanac and Directory''. Toronto: Canadian Almanac and Directory Publishing Co., annual. ( | ''Canadian Almanac and Directory''. Toronto: Canadian Almanac and Directory Publishing Co., annual. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=824622&disp=1998%20%20&columns=*,0,0 971 E4ca].) | ||
''Canadian Sourcebook''. Don Mills, Ontario: Southam Inc., annual. ( | ''Canadian Sourcebook''. Don Mills, Ontario: Southam Inc., annual. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1208642&disp=40th+ed%2E+%282005%29%20%20&columns=*,0,0 971 B5c].) Editions before 1998 were called: | ||
''Corpus Almanac & Canadian Sourcebook''. Don Mills, Ontario: Corpus Information Services, annual. ( | ''Corpus Almanac & Canadian Sourcebook''. Don Mills, Ontario: Corpus Information Services, annual. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=602200&disp=Canada+one+hundred%2C+1867%2D1967%20%20&columns=*,0,0 971 B5c].) | ||
=== Record-keeping Practices === | === Record-keeping Practices === | ||