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Bermuda Church Records

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

Online Resources and Websites

Historical Background

Christianity is by far the largest religion on Bermuda. Various Protestant denominations are dominant at 46.2% (including Anglican 15.8%, African Methodist Episcopal 8.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 3.5%, Methodist 2.7%, Presbyterian 2.0%, Church of God 1.6%, Baptist 1.2%, Salvation Army 1.1%, Brethren 1.0%, other Protestant 2.0%). Roman Catholics form 14.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, and other Christians 9.1%.[1]

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 Bermuda.
b. Click on Places within Bermuda 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. FHL icons.png. 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 Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

Catholic Church Records

Catholic Church in the Caribbean (including Hamilton diocese)

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 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

Church members serving in the Air Force and Navy and their families represented the first presence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bermuda. On 16 July 1953, a group of servicemen's wives organized a Relief Society (women's organization) operating under the Church's Eastern States Mission. Worship services among the military personnel were held beginning 8 October 1961. The Bermuda Branch (a small congregation), with about 50 members, was organized 25 June 1966. This branch was made part of the New York New York Mission in 1974. In 1993, Bermuda was included in the New York New York South Mission.[2]

African Methodist Episcopal Church Records

Writing for Records

Historical Background

For a detailed history, see "AME Church of Bermuda – a positive, profound influence", "The Royal Gazette."

Anglican Church Records

Writing for Records

Historical Background

The first Church of England services in Bermuda were performed by the Reverend Richard Buck, one of the survivors of the 1609 wreck of the Sea Venture who began Bermuda's permanent settlement. Nine parishes, each with its own church and glebe land, were created when colonisation became official in 1612, but there was rarely more than a pair of ordained ministers to share between them over the following two centuries. From 1825 to 1839, Bermuda was attached to the See of Nova Scotia. Bermuda then became part of the Diocese of Newfoundland and Bermuda from its creation in 1839 until 1919. In 1879, the Synod of the Church of England in Bermuda was formed and a Diocese of Bermuda became separate from the Diocese of Newfoundland, but continued to be grouped under the Bishop of Newfoundland and Bermuda until 1919, when Newfoundland and Bermuda each received its own bishop.[3]

Baptist Church Records

Writing for Records

Brethren Church Records

Church of God Records

Writing for Records

Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records

Writing for Records

Methodist Church Records

Writing for Records

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

Salvation Army Church Records

Writing for Records

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Bermuda", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda, accessed 28 March 2020.
  2. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Facts and Statistics: Bermuda, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/country/bermuda, accessed 28 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Anglican Church in Bermuda", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Church_in_Bermuda, accessed 28 March 2020.

References

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