Qatar Church Records

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Qatar

Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Qatar, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources and Websites

Ancestry.com, findmypast.com, and MyHeritage.com can be searched free of charge at your local family history center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Qatar , index and images, ($)

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Qatar , index and images, ($)

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index and images, ($)

Historical Background

In May 2005, representatives of Christian churches in Qatar signed an agreement with the Qatari Government for a fifty-year lease on a large piece of property in Mesaimeer on the outskirts of Doha on which they intended to erect six churches at their own expense. The churches were expected to pay nominal lease fees of a few hundred dollars a year, renewable after ten years. The property was expected to include an Anglican church that may also be used by other Protestant denominations, a church to serve thirty four Indian-Christian congregations, a church for the country's small but influential Coptic community, and a site for two Orthodox churches, one Greek and one Eastern Rite. In December 2005, the foundation stone for the Catholic Church was laid and the ground-breaking took place at the end of April 2006. A board composed of members of all the Christian churches liaises directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding church matters. Each church has been granted permission to apply for visas for visiting clerics to preside over and assist in church services. Previously, Catholics and other Christians were limited to informal group meetings in homes.

Among the denominations mentioned in World Christian Encyclopedia, second edition, Volume 1, p. 617-618 are Mar Thoma Syrian Church (India), Arab Evangelical Church, Christian Brethren, Pentecostals and Anglican Church.

The Coptic minority in Qatar is substantial. There are about 200,000 Roman Catholics, who are under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. Qatar's Anglican population is estimated at 7,000 to 10,000 persons. In 2008 the first church in 14 centuries, Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, was opened in Doha.

Information Recorded in the Records

Different denominations, different time periods, and practices of different record keepers will effect how much information can be found in the records. This outline will show the types of details which might be found (best case scenario):

Baptisms

In Catholic and Anglican records, children were usually baptized a few days after birth, and therefore, the baptism record proves date of birth. Other religions, such as Baptists, baptized at other points in the member's life. Baptism registers might give:

baptism date the infant's name parents' names father's occupation

status of legitimacy occasionally, names of grandparents names of witnesses or godparents, who may be relatives

birth date and place the family's place of residence death information, as an added note or signified by a cross

Marriages

Marriage registers can give:

the marriage date the names of the bride and groom indicate whether the bride and groom were single or widowed their ages

birth dates and places for the bride and groom their residences their occupations

birthplaces of the bride and groom parents' names (after 1800) the names of previous spouses and their death dates names of witnesses, who might be relatives.

Burials

Burial registers may give:

the name of the deceased the date and place of death or burial the deceased's age place of residence

cause of death the names of survivors, especially a widow or widower deceased's birth date and place parents' names, or at least the father's name

How to Find Records

Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

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 Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:

a. Click on the records of Qatar.

b. Click on Places within Qatar and a list of towns will appear.

c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.

d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. . The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

Writing for Records

You will probably need to write to or email the national archives, the diocese, or local parish priests to find records. Use Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters. Then use an Arabic translation service.

• Maps.me Church Listings for Qatar
• Google Maps search results for churches in Qatar

Catholic Church Records

Writing to a Local Parish

Earlier records can be held at the diocese, with more recent records still kept in the local parish. To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a diocese or local parish, consult:

• The Catholic Directory: Qatar

Historical Background

The Catholic Church in Qatar is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. There are 200,000 Catholics in Qatar, most of whom are expatriate workers from the Philippines, Lebanon, India, South America and the United Kingdom. Qatar forms part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. Our Lady of the Rosary, the first Catholic church in Qatar, and also the first in an Arab Muslim emirate, was dedicated in the capital, Doha, on March 14, 2008. Previously, Catholics and other Christians were limited to informal group meetings in homes.

Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Qatar

Arab Evangelical Church Records

Writing for Records

• Facebook

Christian Brethren Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Christian Brethren churches in Qatar

Coptic Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Coptic churches in Qatar

Eastern Orthodox Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Eastern Orthodox churches in Qatar

Greek Orthodox Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Greek Orthodox churches in Qatar

Indian Evangelical Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Indian Evangelical churches in Qatar

Mar Thoma Syrian Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Mar Thom Syrian churches in Qatar

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Pentecostal Syrian churches in Qatar

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