Guyana Church Records

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Online Resources and Websites

• Guyana Civil Registration and Parish Registers, French Overseas Archives, 1677-1907
• Walloon Reformed Church, marriage registers of Demerara and Essequibo, 1758-1811, browsable images.
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, British Guiana, index & images ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, British Guiana , index & images ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials at Findmypast - index & images ($)

History

Christianity and Hinduism are the dominant religions in Guyana. According to the 2012 census, approximately 63 percent of the population is Christian. The major groupings compose:

• Pentecostal, 22.8% of the national population, increasing from 17% in 2002
• Anglican, 5.2%, decreasing from 7%, and
• Seventh-day Adventist, 5.4%, increasing from 5% in 2002
• Roman Catholicism, 7.1%, decreasing from 8,1%
• Other Christian groups, 20.8%, increasing from 17.9%.

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

a. Click on the records of Guyana.

b. Click on Places within Guyana 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. See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Guyana
• Facebook

Bishop of Guyana
Diocesan Office
49 Barrack Street
PO Box 10949
Georgetown, Guyana

Telephone: +592 226 4183
Fax: +592 226 6091
Email: dioceseofguyana@gmail.com

Historical Background

The Anglican Diocese of Guyana is one of eight within the Province of the West Indies. Its cathedral is St. George's Cathedral, Georgetown. The diocese came into being on 24 August 1842, when William Austin was consecrated as the first bishop. In a 2002 census, about 7% of Guyanese described themselves as Anglican.

Catholic Church Records

Catholic Church in the Caribbean (including Georgetown Diocese with Guyana)

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: Guyana

Historical Background

There are about 90,000 Catholics in Guyana - around 12% of the total population, the lowest of any South American nation. The country forms a single diocese — the Diocese of Georgetown, which was established in 1956.

The Church of England and the Church of Scotland had sole legal rights in Guyana until 1899, when the Catholic Church among others was given equal status. Most Catholics are Portuguese. The Georgetown Diocese was established in 1956. Its first native bishop was ordained in 1971.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records

Online Records

Online information is available to current members, for deceased members and immediate family members who are still living. Sign in to FamilySearch and then select Family Tree in the drop-down menu.

Historical Background

Total Church Membership: 6,001. Congregations: 11.
Missionaries held the first sacrament meeting in Guyana in September 1988. Among those who attended was the Majid Abdulla family, which had been baptized previously in Canada. The Church gained recognition in February 1989, and a small branch (a small congregation) in Georgetown was organized in March with about 23 in attendance.

In March of 1991, additional missionaries were sent to Guyana and the branch membership soon numbered more than 100 members. Later that year, Guyana became part of the newly created Trinidad Tobago Mission. By the end of 1993, there were about 270 members. By 1996, membership grew to about 500, and another branch was organized.

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Guyana
• Google Maps search results for Assembly of God churches in Guyana

Presbyterian (Church of Scotland) Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Presbyterian churches in Guyana

Historical Background

The Presbyterian Church of Guyana was founded by missionaries of the Church of Scotland. On September 23, 1815 a Scotsmen bought an unfinished church building from the Dutch. This was the St. Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown. The first minister was Rev Archibald Brown, who arrived in September 1816. Many members were slave owners, but from 1821 slaves were admitted to the worship services. The church developed, the Presbyterian Church of Guyana was formed in 1837. By 1861 it absorbed the remnants of the Nederduitch Hervormde Kerk in Guyana. In 1945, a capital sum was paid to the presbytery and the church ceased its financial aid. In 1967. the Church of Scotland dissolved the Presbytery, and it became an autonomous denomination. Membership was 5,600 in 25 congregations. It adheres to the Westminster Confession.

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Guyana
• Contact information, Guyana Conference

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