Samoa Church Records: Difference between revisions

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*'''1863-1940''' {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1584966| Samoa Baptisms, 1863-1940}} at FamilySearch - [[Samoa Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index

*'''1895-1970''' {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1584972| Samoa Burials, 1895-1970}} at FamilySearch - [[Samoa Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index

Religion in Samoa encompasses a range of groups, but 98% of the population of Samoa is Christian. The following is a distribution of Christian groups as of 2011 (the most recent census available): '''Congregational Christian''' (32 percent), '''Roman Catholic''' (19 percent), '''LDS''' (15 percent), '''Methodist''' (14 percent), '''Assemblies of God''' (8 percent) and '''Seventh-day Adventist''' (4 percent). Groups together constituting less than 5 percent of the population include '''Jehovah's Witnesses, Congregational Church of Jesus, Nazarene, nondenominational Protestant, Baptist, Worship Centre, Peace Chapel, Samoa Evangelism, Elim Church, and Anglican.''' <span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span><br>

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 [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''FamilySearch Center'''] near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.  To find records:  

:::a. Click on the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=424&query=%2Bplace%3ASamoa '''records of Samoa'''].

The Catholic Church in Samoa is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, which, inspired by the life, death and teachings of Jesus Christ, and under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Roman curia in the Vatican City (within Rome) is the largest Christian church in the world. Catholic missionaries arrived in Samoa in 1845 and today Catholics account for around 20% of the overall population. A 2002 census revealed that out of 176,848 Samoans, 24,754 of them were Catholics.The population of Samoa is about 99% Christian. According to the CIA World Fact Book, in the 2001 census, Catholics accounted for 19.6% of the population, being the second largest Christian denomination after Congregationalist at 34.8%.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

Missionaries were recalled in 1940 prior to World War II because of troubled conditions, and this became a good opportunity for the local members to assume more leadership. After the war, the work quickened considerably. By 1950, membership had grown to more than 7,000 and by 1961, to more than 16,000. By 1974, the country had six stakes (dioceses) and became the first country of the world to be entirely covered by stakes. Six new stakes were created in Samoa from 1994-96. <span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

The Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (CCCS) was established by the London Missionary Society in 1830. The arrival of the LMS missionary John Williams played an especially important role in the birth of the denomination, accompanied by missionaries from Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Tonga. Substantial institutions and village churches were established. The church grew rapidly. The church adopted its own constitution in 1928. It was called LMS - Ekalesia Samoa until 1962, when it took the current name. In 1980, the American Samoa District left the CCCS, and established the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa. The church has over 75,000 members and 327 congregations and 300 house fellowships in Samoa alone.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span><ref>

[[Category: Samoa]] [[Category:Church Records by Country]]