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Scotland Church Records: Difference between revisions
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''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Scotland, go to the [[Scotland Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.'' | ''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Scotland, go to the [[Scotland Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.'' | ||
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.''' | ||
==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 about $2 (US) per original image. The original images can also be browsed for free at FHCs and Affiliate Libraries through the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] | |||
*Microfilm and microfiche indexes are also available. See the article [[Scotland Old Parochial Registers (OPR)]] to learn more. Some records are also available in various collections on [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]. | |||
*Search: [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1771030 Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950] | |||
*Search: [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1771074 Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910]; Also at [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-parish-marriages-and-banns-1561-1893 Findmypast], index, ($); [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30229/scotland-marriages-1561-1910?s=218489221 MyHeritage], index, ($). | |||
*To learn more about Scotland births and baptisms, see: [[Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | |||
*To learn more about Scotland marriage records, see: [[Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | |||
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ '''FreeReg.org'''] is a site that transcribes records from across the UK. A few Scotland Church Records are included. No images are available. | |||
*[https://search.findmypast.co.uk/historical-records?SearchedRecordsetName=Scotland&Region=World&subcountry=&subcountryfieldname= '''Findmypast.co.uk'''] has two databases (obtained from FamilySearch.org) as well, with no attached images. They pertain to baptisms and marriages; click on either one to search for ancestors of the Church of Scotland. Bear in mind that these are transcribed entries and these (Church of Scotland) records hardly cover half of Scotland's population. Recourse must be taken in all the other church registers of the different religious denominations of the township/parishes if or when you do not find ancestors in the Church of Scotland parochial registers. | |||
*'''1560-1949''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/church-of-scotland-ministers-1560-1949 Church of Scotland Ministers 1560-1949] at Findmypast - index & images, ($) | |||
*'''1564-1929''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/scotland-parish-births-and-baptisms-1564-1929 Scotland, Parish Births & Baptisms 1564-1929] at Findmypast - index, ($) | |||
*'''1561-1893''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-parish-births-and-baptisms-1564-1929 Scotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893] at Findmypast - index ($) | |||
*'''1564-2017''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-parish-deaths-and-burials-1564-2017 Scotland, Parish Deaths & Burials 1564-2017] at Findmypast - index ($) | |||
===Kirk Sessions=== | |||
Scotland's kirk session records play a vital role in researching Nonconformist and non-subscribing church ancestry. Most of the original Kirk Session records have recently been digitized and can now be accessed online at [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes ScotlandsPeople], in person at many regional archives across Scotland, and abroad via FamilySearch's Family History Centers in many countries. Only a very small number have been indexed and which can be found on [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2390848 FamilySearch], [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/advanced-search#{%22category%22:%22church%22} ScotlandsPeople] (select the "Other Churches" option), and by other websites. Many of the kirk session records contain the names of many parish inhabitants affiliated with churches outside of the Church of Scotland. Also see this [https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-court-records-online - a government guide to church court records]. | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2390848 Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records, 1658-1919] | |||
*[http://www.oldscottish.com/records.html Oldscottish.com] has some non-parochial (Seceder church) register transcriptions, kirk sessions, and more ($) | |||
*[http://www.scottishindexes.com/coveragebmd.aspx ScottishIndexes] has some court and church register transcriptions for non-OPR (Old Parochial Registers) | |||
===Nonconformists=== | |||
In 1855, the government officially called for all non-parochial church registers (of all religions outside of the Church of Scotland) to be turned in to the official government archive, then called the Public Record Office. [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk], now the government archive, 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 the other surviving 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]. Sources out of Scotland suggest that there are in "the final stages", plans to make more of the non-subscribing and Nonconformist register entries available online. | |||
For one of the most comprehensive List of search strategies and online church registers available for Nonconformist and non-subscribing religions, click the first link below (under "Research Guidance"), for your research purposes. | |||