France Church Records: Difference between revisions

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For birth, death, and marriage records after 1792, see [[France Civil Registration|France Civil Registration]].  

The Catholic churches in France were among the first to keep vital records. The Council of Trent in 1563 issued the first mandate that Roman Catholic parishes keep records of christenings. A later directive in 1579 required the keeping of marriage and death records. The churches in France did not always comply with this regulation. Many Catholic registers date from the mid-1600s, but a few date back to the 1500s. However, there are some earlier records, such as the parish registers of Givry (Saône-et-Loire) which go from 1334 to 1357 and the records of Roz Landrieux (Ille-et-Villaine) from 1451 to 1528. Records were kept in French or Latin.  

Although many of the very early records may have been preserved, many parishes have gaps in their records, especially before 1736.

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See, [[France Huguenots|'''France Huguenots''']].

The information recorded in church books varied over time. The later records usually give more complete information.  

[[France, Protestant Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|France, Protestant Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  

*'''1561-1894''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20129/france-protestant-church-baptism?s=275764761 France, Protestant Church Baptism] at MyHeritage - index ($)  

*'''1691-1894''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20127/france-coutances-avranches-diocese-catholic-parish-baptisms?s=275764761 France, Coutances and Avranches Diocese, Catholic Parish Baptisms] at MyHeritage - index ($)

Earlier registers typically give less information, sometimes including only the child's and father's names and the date of the baptism. The mother's maiden surname may be missing, and even her given name may be omitted. At first only the baptism date was recorded, but in later years the birth date was given as well.

*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-14002/france-church-marriages-civil-marriages?s=275764761 France, Church Marriages and Civil Marriages] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)

Marriage registers give  

*and their death dates.

People sought marriage dispensations from their bishops for a variety of reasons including age, mental state, and familial relationships through blood or marriage which granted special permission to marry. If a close relationship was discovered after marriage, a rehabilitation was required which granted the couple permission to stay married. Dispensations and rehabilitations are often found in the marriage registers but more often at the diocesan archives. Sometimes a chart showing the relationship can be found either in the parish registers or in the departmental archives record, series G.

*'''1561-1890''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20131/france-protestant-church-deaths?s=275764761 France, Protestant Church Deaths] at MyHeritage - index ($)

*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-14003/france-church-burials-civil-deaths?s=275764761 France, Church Burials and Civil Deaths] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)

*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-14008/france-daily-burial-registers-of-parisian-cemeteries?s=275764761 France, Daily Burial Registers of Parisian Cemeteries] at MyHeritage - index ($)<br>

Some people, born and perhaps married before the keeping of vital records began in their area, may be recorded only in the burial records. These records may help fill in information when baptism or marriage records are lacking. Some children who died at birth are recorded only in the burial records (sometimes with a note that the child was baptized by the midwife).

Other church records include confirmation lists, lists of families, rental of a church bench, communion lists, and attendance at special meetings. Unusual calamities, such as torrential rains, flash floods, and fires, were also noted.  

During times of persecution, especially in 1685, some French Protestants were forced to renounce their religion and convert to the Roman Catholic Church. The records of their abjurations show the name, age, occupation, and residence. You may also identify parents, spouses, or children in some of these records.

Content: Names and genealogies of clergy and members of religious orders, record of clerical taxes, land records, wills, inheritance and judicial records of laity.

Sometime after the French Revolution, the parish registers that had been kept at each parish until 1792 became state property. These registers were turned over to departmental archives or town registrars. The local priests no longer have parish registers before 1792. The departmental archives will answer written inquiries regarding the whereabouts of the parish registers of a specific locality, but they will not research a name in them.  

The practice of making duplicates of church books was introduced as law in 1667. The original was kept at the vicarage, and the duplicate was delivered to the clerk of the court [greffe du bailliage]. Although this law was not completely obeyed, most parishes did comply and made at least some copies. Another law reinforcing the requirement for parish register duplicates was passed in 1736. Sometime after the French Revolution, these duplicates and most of the original parish registers prior to 1792 were handed over to the departmental archives for safekeeping.

Most pre-1792 parish records are in departmental archives. You can access these collections by:

*From [[France Genealogy|'''France Genealogy''']], select the department of your ancestors to find the link to online records. You will also find links to available indexes for each department.

In the FamilySearch Catalog, look under the name of the town where the parish was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived. Look under FRANCE, [DEPARTMENT], [TOWN] - CHURCH RECORDS.  

Church records after 1792 in France are available by writing to the parish. Parishes will usually answer correspondence in French. However, most researchers have more success by contacting civil registration offices first. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to another archive. To obtain the address of a given parish, write to the mayor of the town. The mayor will know if the parish office is in his town or in a nearby town.  For help writing a letter in French, see [[French Letter Writing Guide|'''French Letter Writing Guide''']].

*[https://www.eglises.org/types/independantes/?Langue=en '''Directory of Protestant Churches in France''']

Many genealogical societies in France are presently indexing the marriages before 1792. See [[France Societies]] for information about contacting them.  

   

Several French genealogical societies have begun indexing pre-1792 church records in their districts. For a list of indexed church records, chiefly marriages, see:  

Some of these societies are entering these marriage indexes on Minitel. See [[France Archives and Libraries]] for details.  

:U.C.G.L.<br>Madame la Secrétaire<br>B.P. 8<br>54131 Saint Max Cedex<br>FRANCE

Effective use of church records includes the following strategies in addition to the Search Strategies elsewhere in this article.  

*Search the death registers for all known family members. Death records may show children who were never recorded in baptism records.<br>

*The following websites may also be helpful: