Angola Church Records

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Angola

Church Records

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

Online Resources and Websites

• 1838-1991 - South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church Registers (Pretoria Archive), 1838-1991 - index and images (records in Afrikaans and English)
• 1856-1988 - South Africa, Reformed Church Records, 1856-1988 - images (records in Afrikaans and English)
• 1874-1931 - Parish registers, Gereformeerde Kerk, Quê (Angola) - 1874-1931 - images
• 1879-1929 - Parish registers, Gereformeerde Kerk, Humpata (Angola) - 1879-1929 - images
• 1885-1958 - Parish registers, 1885-1958 - images (records in Afrikaans)
• 1902-1931 - Parish registers, 1902-1931 - images (records in Afrikaans)
• 1918-1958 - Parish registers, 1918-1958 - images (records in Afrikaans)

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 [COUNTRY LINK records of Brazil].

b. Click on Places within Brazil 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 French Letter Writing GuideLetter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

Catholic Church Records

Writing to a Local Parish

To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a local parish, consult:

• The Catholic Directory: Brazil

Anglican Records

Anglicanism reached Angola in 1923. For more information, see Diocese of Angola and Christianity in Angola.

Baptist Records

The first Baptist missionaries arrived in Angola in 1878. For more information, see Christianity in Angola.

Congregationalist Records

The first Congregational missionaries arrived in Angola in 1880. For more information, see Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola and Christianity in Angola.

Dutch Reformed Church Records

Historical Background

The Dutch East India Company sent a crew to create a Dutch settlement in the Cape of Good Hope in 1652. Many of the members of the crew belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church and created a community in Cape Town. The Church spread throughout southern Africa; a few congregations were established in Angola. Records for the Dutch Reformed Church have been maintained in good condition. The records were written in Afrikaans and English. The earliest available church records in Angola begin in 1838 and exist to 1988.

Lutheran Church Records

Historical Background

Lutheranism was introduced to Angola in the late 1800s by Finnish missionaries. The first permanent congregation was established in 1956. For more information, see Lutheranism in Angola and Christianity in Angola.

Methodist Records

For more information, see Christianity in Angola.

Pentecostal Church Records

Historical Background

The origins of the church go back to evangelistic work begun in 1950 by missionaries from the USA. They were later joined by missionaries from the Portuguese Assemblies of God. In 1974, when Angola became independent, the church took the name of Evangelical Pentecostal Mission of Angola.

Catholic Church Records

Christianity in Angola began in 1491, with a Catholic mission in the São Salvador area. João I, Manikongo of the powerful Kongo Kingdom, converted to Christianity, and his son, Afonso I, also a Christian, became a well-known figure, reigning from 1509 to 1543.

Seventh Day Adventist Records

For more information, see Christianity in Angola.