Angola Church Records

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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)
• UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628-1969, index ($)

Historical Background

There are about 1,000 religious communities, mostly Christian, in Angola. While reliable statistics are nonexistent, estimates have it that more than half of the population are Catholics, while about a quarter adhere to the Protestant churches introduced during the colonial period: the Congregationalists mainly among the Ovimbundu of the Central Highlands and the coastal region to its west, the Methodists concentrating on the Kimbundu speaking strip from Luanda to Malanje, the Baptists almost exclusively among the Bakongo of the north-west (now present in Luanda as well) and dispersed Adventists, Reformed and Lutherans.

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 Angola.

b. Click on Places within Angola 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 Portuguese Letter-writing Guide for help with composing letters.

• Maps.me Church Listings for Angola

Baptist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Angola

Historical Background

The first Baptist missionaries arrived in Angola in 1878.

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: Angola

Historical Background

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.

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: 2,933. Congregations: 15. Latter-day Saints have been living in Angola since 1985. However, many had been baptized while living for a short time in France or Portugal. After their return to Angola, they formed the nucleus of the Church there. Records indicate that some 400 members baptized in Europe from 1980 to 1996 returned to cities in Angola. The Church was officially recognized in Angola in 1993. The first branch (a small congregation) was organized in 1996 in the capital city, Luanda. They had been meeting in the homes of priesthood holders.

Congregationalist Records

Writiing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Congregational churches in Angola

Historical Background

The first Congregational missionaries arrived in Angola in 1880.

Online Records

• 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)

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Reformed churches in Angola

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.

Eastern Orthodox Church Records

Dioceses and Archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and of All Africa

Angola is included in the Archdiocese of Zimbabwe and Angola

Lutheran Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Lutheran churches in Angola

Historical Background

Lutheranism was introduced to Angola in the late 1800s by Finnish missionaries. The first permanent congregation was established in 1956.

Methodist Church Records

Writing for Records

West Angola, United Methodist Church
Rua de N.S. Da Muxima 12
Caixa Postal 68
Luanda
Angola

Work Phone: 244 222 33 2107
Work Fax: 244 222 39 0184
Work Email: imuangola@snet.co.ao

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Angola
• Google Maps search results for Evangelical churches in Angola

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.

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

• SDA Directory
• Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Angola

Historical Background

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Angola struggled during the country’s civil war. Even though the church’s membership grew to some 300,000 members around the country, much of the church’s infrastructure was damaged. In just one region of the country, 145 church buildings were destroyed.

The Bongo Mission Station, where Adventist work began in 1924, was abandoned. In 1986 workers at the mission station were forced to flee as fighting moved into the area. The station’s buildings are still standing but are in urgent need of repair and refurbishment.