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Church records [''Kirkebøger''] are excellent sources for accurate information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Virtually every person who lived in Denmark was recorded in a church record. | Church records [''Kirkebøger''] are excellent sources for accurate information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Virtually every person who lived in Denmark was recorded in a church record. | ||
Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly called vital records because critical events in a person's life are recorded in them. Church records are vital records made by the clergy. They are often referred to as parish registers or churchbooks. They include records of baptisms [''Dåb''], marriages [''Giftemål''], and burials [''Begravelser'']. In addition, church records may also include introductions, communions, absolutions, church accounts, confirmations, and lists of people moving into or out of the parish. | Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly called vital records because critical events in a person's life are recorded in them. Church records are vital records made by the clergy. They are often referred to as parish registers or churchbooks. They include records of baptisms [''Dåb''], marriages [''Giftemål''], and burials [''Begravelser'']. In addition, church records may also include [[Scandinavia Introductions|introductions]], communions, absolutions, church accounts, confirmations, and lists of people moving into or out of the parish. | ||
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Beginning in 1849, the Danish constitution recognized Christian dissenter churches. It did, however, require that everyone from all denominations notify the pastor of their local Lutheran parish of all births and death. | Beginning in 1849, the Danish constitution recognized Christian dissenter churches. It did, however, require that everyone from all denominations notify the pastor of their local Lutheran parish of all births and death. | ||
To guard against possible destruction or loss of church books, duplicate records were kept in separate places after 1814. | To guard against possible destruction or loss of church books, duplicate records were kept in separate places after 1814. | ||
== Information Recorded in Church Registers == | == Information Recorded in Church Registers == | ||
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