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Scotland Church Records: Difference between revisions
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{{Scotland-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb | {{Scotland-sidebar}} | ||
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| link1=[[Scotland Genealogy|Scotland]] | | link1=[[Scotland Genealogy|Scotland]] | ||
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Church records are an excellent source for accurate information on names, dates, and places of birth, marriage, and death. Since civil registration in Scotland began in 1855, church records are a major source for genealogical research in Scotland before 1855. | Church records are an excellent source for accurate information on names, dates, and places of birth, marriage, and death. Since civil registration in Scotland began in 1855, church records are a major source for genealogical research in Scotland before 1855. | ||
== Understanding the Records | ==Understanding the Records== | ||
[[Image:United Presbyterian Church at Stonehouse, Scotland.jpg|thumb|right|403x600px|United Presbyterian Church at Stonehouse, Scotland.jpg]] | [[Image:United Presbyterian Church at Stonehouse, Scotland.jpg|thumb|right|403x600px|United Presbyterian Church at Stonehouse, Scotland.jpg]] | ||
=== Church of Scotland === | ===Church of Scotland=== | ||
''See also: [[Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church Records]]'' | ''See also: [[Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church Records]]'' | ||
The Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian church) has been the recognised national church of Scotland since 1690. It is not a state or "established" church (although that latter description has found its way into various official documentation such as marriage registers); that independence from the state was eventually acknowledged in the Church of Scotland Act 1921. The organization of the Church of Scotland is as follows: | The Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian church) has been the recognised national church of Scotland since 1690. It is not a state or "established" church (although that latter description has found its way into various official documentation such as marriage registers); that independence from the state was eventually acknowledged in the Church of Scotland Act 1921. The organization of the Church of Scotland is as follows: | ||
*The General Assembly is the highest organizational body and serves as the final ecclesiastical court of appeals. | *The General Assembly is the highest organizational body and serves as the final ecclesiastical court of appeals. | ||
*A Synod is made up of several presbyteries and serves as the court of appeals for those presbyteries. | *A Synod is made up of several presbyteries and serves as the court of appeals for those presbyteries. | ||
*A Presbytery is made up of several parishes and serves as the court of appeals for those parishes. | *A Presbytery is made up of several parishes and serves as the court of appeals for those parishes. | ||
*A parish is the lowest governing body. | *A parish is the lowest governing body. | ||
*A chapelry or chapel of ease is a small church which serves a distant part of a parish. | *A chapelry or chapel of ease is a small church which serves a distant part of a parish. | ||
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*Descriptions of parishes can be found at: | *Descriptions of parishes can be found at: | ||
**[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ Genuki.org.uk] | **[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ Genuki.org.uk] | ||
**[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ VisionofBritain.org.uk] | **[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ VisionofBritain.org.uk] | ||
*Lists of neighboring parishes can be found at: | *Lists of neighboring parishes can be found at: | ||
**[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ Genuki.org.uk] | **[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ Genuki.org.uk] | ||
*Parish outline maps are also available online at: | *Parish outline maps are also available online at: | ||
**[http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-maps.htm Scotlandsfamily.com] | **[http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-maps.htm Scotlandsfamily.com] | ||
*Atlas and index to parish registers can be found at: | *Atlas and index to parish registers can be found at: | ||
**[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8830 Great Britain, Atlas and Index of Parish Registers] ($) | **[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8830 Great Britain, Atlas and Index of Parish Registers] ($) | ||
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**Phillips’ Handy Atlas of the Counties of Scotland 1881. London, England: G. Phillip, 1881. ({{FHL|941 E7p|call number-id|disp=FHL Book 941 E7p}}) | **Phillips’ Handy Atlas of the Counties of Scotland 1881. London, England: G. Phillip, 1881. ({{FHL|941 E7p|call number-id|disp=FHL Book 941 E7p}}) | ||
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=== Nonconformists === | ===Nonconformists=== | ||
Churches which are not part of the Church of Scotland are often referred to as nonconformist. By the 19th century a majority of the population was non-Conformist. There were two categories of so-called nonconformist churches in Scotland: | Churches which are not part of the Church of Scotland are often referred to as nonconformist. By the 19th century a majority of the population was non-Conformist. There were two categories of so-called nonconformist churches in Scotland: | ||
*Seceders -- Those who seceded from the main church but were still Presbyterian in form. | *Seceders -- Those who seceded from the main church but were still Presbyterian in form. | ||
*Dissenters -- Those who were not Presbyterian in form, such as Episcopal, Methodist, or Catholic. | *Dissenters -- Those who were not Presbyterian in form, such as Episcopal, Methodist, or Catholic. | ||
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For more background information on churches in Scotland, including a historical timeline, read the article [[Scotland Church History|Scotland Church History]]. | For more background information on churches in Scotland, including a historical timeline, read the article [[Scotland Church History|Scotland Church History]]. | ||
== Accessing the Records == | ==Accessing the Records== | ||
===OPR=== | |||
*All Church of Scotland OPRs can be accessed on the ScotlandsPeople's [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ website]. There is no fee to search for names, but there is a fee of several pounds per original image. The original images can also be browsed for free at FHCs and Affiliate Libraries through the [https://www.familysearch.org/catalog/search FamilySearch Catalog]. | *All Church of Scotland OPRs can be accessed on the ScotlandsPeople's [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ website]. There is no fee to search for names, but there is a fee of several pounds per original image. The original images can also be browsed for free at FHCs and Affiliate Libraries through the [https://www.familysearch.org/catalog/search FamilySearch Catalog]. | ||
*Microfilm and microfiche indexes are also available. See the article [[Scotland Old Parochial Registers (OPR)]] to learn more. Some records are also available in various collections on [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]. To learn more: | *Microfilm and microfiche indexes are also available. See the article [[Scotland Old Parochial Registers (OPR)]] to learn more. Some records are also available in various collections on [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]. To learn more: | ||
**[[Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records]], | **[[Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records]], | ||
**[[Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | **[[Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | ||
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg.org] is a site that transcribes records from across the UK. A few Scotland Church Records are included. No images are available. | *[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg.org] is a site that transcribes records from across the UK. A few Scotland Church Records are included. No images are available. | ||
=== Kirk Sessions === | ===Kirk Sessions=== | ||
Very few Kirk Sessions records are available online. ScotlandsPeople are in "the final stages" of making more of them available online. See this guide [https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-court-records-online Church Court Records] for more information. | Very few Kirk Sessions records are available online. ScotlandsPeople are in "the final stages" of making more of them available online. See this guide [https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-court-records-online Church Court Records] for more information. | ||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2390848 Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records, 1658-1919] | *[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2390848 Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records, 1658-1919] | ||
*[http://www.oldscottish.com/records.html Oldscottish.com] has some non-parochial (Seceder church) register transcriptions, kirk sessions, and more ($) | *[http://www.oldscottish.com/records.html Oldscottish.com] has some non-parochial (Seceder church) register transcriptions, kirk sessions, and more ($) | ||
*[http://www.scottishindexes.com/coveragebmd.aspx ScottishIndexes] has some court and church register transcriptions for non-OPR (Old Parochial Registers) | *[http://www.scottishindexes.com/coveragebmd.aspx ScottishIndexes] has some court and church register transcriptions for non-OPR (Old Parochial Registers) | ||
*Kirk Sessions can also be obtained in person at regional archives throughout Scotland. | *Kirk Sessions can also be obtained in person at regional archives throughout Scotland. | ||
=== Non-Church of Scotland === | ===Non-Church of Scotland=== | ||
*[https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ ScotlandsPeople] has indexed most of the Roman Catholic parish registers throughout the country. These collections can be accessed on their [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/advanced-search#{%22category%22:%22church%22} Advanced Search] page. See this page for more information: [https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/catholic-parish-registers Catholic Parish Registers] A slight majority of other non-Church of Scotland denominational registers are available for searching in person or by record agent at the National Records of Scotland. A list of what is available is [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/guides/church-registers#Parishes here]. | *[https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ ScotlandsPeople] has indexed most of the Roman Catholic parish registers throughout the country. These collections can be accessed on their [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/advanced-search#{%22category%22:%22church%22} Advanced Search] page. See this page for more information: [https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/catholic-parish-registers Catholic Parish Registers] A slight majority of other non-Church of Scotland denominational registers are available for searching in person or by record agent at the National Records of Scotland. A list of what is available is [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/guides/church-registers#Parishes here]. | ||
*Other nonconformist databases include: | *Other nonconformist databases include: | ||
*{{RecordSearch|2421466|Scotland Presbyterian & Protestant Church Records, 1736-1990}} at [https://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index | |||
**[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-roman-catholic-parish-baptisms Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms] ($) | **[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-roman-catholic-parish-baptisms Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms] ($) | ||
**[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-roman-catholic-parish-marriages Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Marriages] ($) | **[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-roman-catholic-parish-marriages Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Marriages] ($) | ||
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**[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-non-old-parish-registers-vital-records-1647-1875 Scotland Non-Old Parish Registers Vital Records 1647-1875] ($) | **[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-non-old-parish-registers-vital-records-1647-1875 Scotland Non-Old Parish Registers Vital Records 1647-1875] ($) | ||
**[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61544 Scotland, Extracted Parish Records, 1571-1997] ($) | **[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61544 Scotland, Extracted Parish Records, 1571-1997] ($) | ||
**[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1636 Gretna Green, Scotland, Marriage Registers, 1794-1895] ($) | **[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1636 Gretna Green, Scotland, Marriage Registers, 1794-1895] ($) | ||
**[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10079/scottish-deaths-1747-1868?s=218489221 Scottish Deaths, 1747-1868] ($) | **[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10079/scottish-deaths-1747-1868?s=218489221 Scottish Deaths, 1747-1868] ($) | ||
*See "Research Guidance" below for important steps to take, to trace non-Church of Scotland ancestry. | *See "Research Guidance" below for important steps to take, to trace non-Church of Scotland ancestry. | ||
== Research Guidance == | ==Research Guidance== | ||
'''FamilySearch Wiki Help for Non-Church of Scotland Church Records Research''' | '''FamilySearch Wiki Help for Non-Church of Scotland Church Records Research''' | ||
*[[Steps For Tracing Scottish Ancestry Outside of The Church of Scotland|Steps For Tracing Scottish Ancestry Outside of The Church of Scotland]] | *[[Steps For Tracing Scottish Ancestry Outside of The Church of Scotland|Steps For Tracing Scottish Ancestry Outside of The Church of Scotland]] | ||
'''Online Tutorials on FamilySearch:''' | '''Online Tutorials on FamilySearch:''' | ||
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/241 Scotland's Old Parish Registers: How to Access, Use, and Interpret] - Parts 1 and 2 | *[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/241 Scotland's Old Parish Registers: How to Access, Use, and Interpret] - Parts 1 and 2 | ||
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/783 Using Church of Scotland Parochial Registers to trace Scots Ancestry] | *[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/783 Using Church of Scotland Parochial Registers to trace Scots Ancestry] | ||