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India had no civil registration (including birth certificates) as such. The next best thing for a genealogist is to use Church Records. About 80% of all [[Birth (baptism) marriage and death (burial) records|baptism, marriage and burial records]] have survived today, and the good news is that they are all indexed and available on microfilm. Records of baptisms, marriages and burials are available 1698-1968. In 1930 the Anglican Church in India separated from the Church of England and became the autonomous Church of India, Burma and Ceylon, still within the Anglican Communion. From this time onwards the number of ecclesiastical records sent to England was smaller than previously, and continued to decline over time.  
India had no civil registration (including birth certificates) as such. The next best thing for a genealogist is to use '''Church Records'''. An estimated 80% of all [[Birth, marriage and death records|baptism, marriage and burial records]] have survived today, and the good news is that they are all indexed and available on microfilm. Records of baptisms, marriages and burials are available 1698-1968.


The records are housed in the [[APAC]] in London. If you live outside London, then the best way to have access to these records is to use the [[LDS]] (Mormon) microfilms, which will be available in an LDS [[Family History Centres|Family History Centre]] near you.
In 1930 the Anglican Church in India separated from the Church of England and became the autonomous Church of India, Burma and Ceylon, still within the Anglican Communion. From this time onwards the number of ecclesiastical records sent to England was smaller than previously, and continued to decline over time.  


Some regiments of the [[British Army]] (not the [[East India Company Army|HEIC Army]]) chose to have their records included in the [[General Register Office]] records at what was formerly called St Catherine's House, in London. If your ancestor was in the British Army and you are unable to find your ancestor's baptism record in the church records held at the [[APAC]] or on microfilm, there is a chance that they will be available in the [[Chaplains_Returns| Army Ecclesiastical Returns]] of the General Registrar's Office. Indexes to these records are available in most genealogical libraries and family history societies.
The records are housed in the [[APAC]] reading room in the [[British Library]], London. If you live outside London, then the best way to have access to these records and their indexes is to use the [[LDS]] (Mormon) microfilms, which will be available in an LDS [[Family History Centres|Family History Centre]] near you.


The [[Society of Genealogists]], London has some church records relating to India, some of which
==Records at the British Library==
are not found in the N series of India Office Records at the British Library. To see what is available refer to  [http://www.sog.org.uk/prc/overseas.shtml#india Church records of India at SOG]
Microfilmed copies of all the records are available for public inspection and indexes are on the open shelves of the APAC, broken down by [[Presidency]], alphabetically and by year.  Records are catalogued under the 'N' series (ie, the references for ecclesiastical records being with N).


Many of the indexes have been transcribed by FIBIS Volunteers and are available in the [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/index.php FIBIS Search] section of this web site under the heading Ecclesiastical Records.  Some records, a small proportion of the whole, have been transcribed and are searchable on the British Library site [http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/ India Office Family History Search].


==Using Microfilms==
=== Anglican Records ===
Since the [[East India Company]] only officially accepted employees of Protestant faith, all early Ecclesiastical Records in the APAC are Anglican. The [[India Office]] categorization of these records and their earliest dates are:


*[[Using LDS Microfilms | How to Use Church Records on Microfilm]]
{|-
Instructions on how to use the microfilmed copies of the [[APAC]] church records and indexes at an LDS Family History Centre.
|'''Bengal''' || N/1 || 1713
|-
|'''Madras''' || N/2 || 1698
|-
|'''Bombay''' ||N/3 || 1709
|}


*[[LDS Microfilms for Bengal Presidency Church Records]]
A list of all the microfilm numbers for the LDS copies of Bengal church records.


*[[LDS Microfilms for Madras Presidency Church Records]]
=== Roman Catholic Records ===
A list of all the microfilm numbers for the LDS copies of Madras church records.  
The Company initially legislated against the employment of Roman Catholics. However, such was the pressure to find recruits for its armies in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th Century, it was forced to repeal this legislation and to recruit Catholic soldiers from [[Ireland]]. The pastoral needs of these soldiers were generally met by the independent Catholic Missionaries, largely established by the [[Portuguese]] or the [[French]].  


*[[LDS Microfilms for Bombay Presidency Church Records]]
Following Catholic emancipation in England and Wales (1829) Irish soldiers prevailed upon the presidency authorities to provide English-speaking Catholic chaplains and churches for their use. These were established beginning in the mid-1830s. Again, their BMD returns were made to the presidency ecclesiastical authorities. Initially, these returns were filed separately (N/x/RC series, where x=1 for Bengal, x=2 for Madras and x=3 for Bombay) but after a few years, they were amalgamated with the Anglican records.
A list of all the microfilm numbers for the LDS copies of Bombay church records.  


*[[LDS Microfilms for Church Records outside of the usual Presidencies]]
Lists of microfilms of European church records in India that do not fall under the usual three Presidencies. These include Native States, some Catholic records and post-Independence church records.


*[[Non-British Church Records]]
=== Missionary and Non-Conformist Records, including the Church of Scotland ===
Lists of microfilms of church records in India which are not held by the [[APAC]]. They are principally native Roman Catholic congregations, but also include [[Syrian]], [[Armenian]], [[Danish]] and [[Dutch]] church records in India. There are also a very small number of British churches in this listing, namely the original Anglican records from [[Fort St George]] in Madras, and the Church of Scotland in [[Bombay]].  
It may be noted that a number of independent missionary and non-conformist churches were requested to return their BMD records to the presidency authorities. The latter considered it necessary to record proof of relationships of its employees for official purposes such as rights to pension, etc. A number of priests refused to do this, largely on the grounds of time taken and of cost. Accordingly, many of their vital events are not recorded in the APAC today. Foremost among these are the records of the large numbers of Catholic soldiers who used the missionary churches during the thirty years or so before emancipation. To obtain details from these ‘missing’ records, it is necessary to visit the church where the ceremony was performed and to apply to see the original register.


*[[Goa Church Records]]
With the passage of time, the BMD returns became increasingly included and therefore more likely to feature in the ‘N’ series of returns at the APAC. Note, however, that for some reason, a number of marriages performed in the Church of Scotland feature in the [[Registry Office Marriages]].
Lists of microfilms of church records in [[Goa]].


==Churches==
== Regional breakdown of ecclesiastical records ==
 
{|border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"
|+'''(Baptisms, Marriages and Burials''')
!Catalogue Section!!Presidency or Region !!Range of Volumes!!Range of Years!!LDS Film Range*    (I = Index)
|-
| N/1 || [[Bengal (Presidency)|Bengal]] || 1 – 641 || 1713 – 1948 || 498954 - 535699
|-
| . || . || RC/1-5 || 1842 – 1844 || 527437
|-
| N/2 || [[Madras (Presidency)|Madras]] || 1 – 176 || 1698 – 1948 || 463296 - 527486
|-
| . || . || RC/1-8 || 1835 – 1854 || 530008 - 530011
|-
| . || [[Cochin]] || 177 || 1751 – 1804 || .
|-
| N/3 || [[Bombay (Presidency)|Bombay]] || 1 – 178 || 1709 – 1948 || 462965 - 523914
|-
| . || . || RC/1-5 || 1842 – 1844 || 528361
|-
| N/4 || India and Pakistan || 1 – 8 || 1949 – 1968 || 527415 - 527421
|-
| N/5 || [[Princely States|Indian States]] || 1 – 2 || 1890 – 1946 || 498603 (I) & 527422-3
|-
| N/6 || St. Helena || 1 – 3 || 1767 – 1835 || 498603 (I) & 498605
|-
| N/7 || [[Fort Marlborough]] || 1 || 1759 – 1825 || 498603 (I) & 498606
|-
| N/8 || [[Penang]] (Prince of Wales Island) || 1 || 1799 – 1829 || 498603 (I) & 498606
|-
| N/9 || Macao & Whampoa || 1 || 1820 – 1834 || 498603 (I) & 498606
|-
| N/10 || [[Burma]] || 1 – 7 || 1937 – 1957 || 527436 (I) & 534495
|-
| N/11 || Registry Office Marriages || 1 – 11 || 1852 – 1911 || Not Filmed
|-
| N/12 || Kuwait Political Agency || 1 – 16 || 1937 – 1961 || Not Filmed
|-
| N/13 || [[Aden]] || 1 – 21 || 1840 – 1969 || Believed unfilmed
|-
| N/14 || Register Lists || . ||||
|-
| . || (Registration Act 1886) || . ||||
|-
| . || . || 1 Bengal || ||
|-
| . || . || 2 Bombay || ||
|-
| . || . || 3 Madras, Assam, Burma, Central Provinces and Punjab ||||
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>    or Film Numbers to insert into [[LDS]] Catalogue to yield full range.
Note: The [[LDS]] tend to classify the locations of these ecclesiastical events according to the present day Indian States, which the researcher will have to relate to the provinces of the former British Presidencies.


*[[Churches in South India]]
==Other sources==
A list of postal addresses and phone numbers of all bishops of CSI dioceses in India, correct in 1993.  
*[[Birth, marriage and death records]], an overview of sources.
*[[IGI]], details of searching the [[LDS]] genealogical index and using their microfilms of Church records.
*[[Non-British Church Records]], a list of microfilms of church records in India which are not held by the APAC.
*[[Goa Church Records]], a list of microfilms of church records in [[Goa]].
*[[Society of Genealogists]], London has some church records relating to India, some of which are not found in the N series of India Office Records at the British Library. To see what is available refer to [http://www.sog.org.uk/prc/overseas.shtml#india Church records of India at SOG].


*[[Churches in North India]]
A list of the postal addresses and phone numbers of all bishops of CNI dioceses in India, correct in 1993. 


*[[Catholic Churches in Madras]]
==Churches==
A list of Roman Catholic churches in Madras, with their date of building and approximate location. This list was kindly transcribed by Peter Bailey.
*[[Churches in South India]], a list of postal addresses and phone numbers of all bishops of CSI dioceses in India, correct in 1993.
*[[Churches in North India]], a list of the postal addresses and phone numbers of all bishops of CNI dioceses in India, correct in 1993. 
*[[Catholic Churches in Madras]], a list of Roman Catholic churches in Madras, with their date of building and approximate location. This list was kindly transcribed by Peter Bailey.
*[[Calcutta#Other|Calcutta]], a reference to a listing of church records in Calcutta to 1800.


*[[Calcutta#Other|Calcutta]]
A reference to a listing of church records in Calcutta to 1800.


==External Links==
==External links==
*[http://home.att.net/~Local_Catholic/Catholic-India.htm  Local Catholic Church History in India]. This is a terrific site by Ann Mensch which provides a wealth of information on all Indian Catholic dioceses, as well as some interesting links on Catholic family history.
*[http://home.att.net/~Local_Catholic/Catholic-India.htm  Local Catholic Church History in India]. This is a terrific site by Ann Mensch which provides a wealth of information on all Indian Catholic dioceses, as well as some interesting links on Catholic family history.
*This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2009-11/1258214986 post] gives details of a [marriage] Banns book at Roman Catholic churches. The example mentioned contained information additional to the marriage record.  
*This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2009-11/1258214986 post] gives details of a [marriage] Banns book at Roman Catholic churches. The example mentioned contained information additional to the marriage record.
* [http://www.britishempire.co.uk/article/churches/churchesofindia.htm  Photos of Churches in India]. Stephen Luscombe has a fascinating website on the British Empire which includes, amongst other things, photos of former British churches in India. The whole site is worth exploring for general information on the British Empire.
* [http://www.britishempire.co.uk/article/churches/churchesofindia.htm  Photos of Churches in India]. Stephen Luscombe has a fascinating website on the British Empire which includes, amongst other things, photos of former British churches in India. The whole site is worth exploring for general information on the British Empire.


[[Category:Church records]]
[[Category:Church records]]

Revision as of 22:02, 7 December 2009

India had no civil registration (including birth certificates) as such. The next best thing for a genealogist is to use Church Records. An estimated 80% of all baptism, marriage and burial records have survived today, and the good news is that they are all indexed and available on microfilm. Records of baptisms, marriages and burials are available 1698-1968.

In 1930 the Anglican Church in India separated from the Church of England and became the autonomous Church of India, Burma and Ceylon, still within the Anglican Communion. From this time onwards the number of ecclesiastical records sent to England was smaller than previously, and continued to decline over time.

The records are housed in the APAC reading room in the British Library, London. If you live outside London, then the best way to have access to these records and their indexes is to use the LDS (Mormon) microfilms, which will be available in an LDS Family History Centre near you.

Records at the British Library

Microfilmed copies of all the records are available for public inspection and indexes are on the open shelves of the APAC, broken down by Presidency, alphabetically and by year. Records are catalogued under the 'N' series (ie, the references for ecclesiastical records being with N).

Many of the indexes have been transcribed by FIBIS Volunteers and are available in the FIBIS Search section of this web site under the heading Ecclesiastical Records. Some records, a small proportion of the whole, have been transcribed and are searchable on the British Library site India Office Family History Search.

Anglican Records

Since the East India Company only officially accepted employees of Protestant faith, all early Ecclesiastical Records in the APAC are Anglican. The India Office categorization of these records and their earliest dates are:

Bengal N/1 1713
Madras N/2 1698
Bombay N/3 1709


Roman Catholic Records

The Company initially legislated against the employment of Roman Catholics. However, such was the pressure to find recruits for its armies in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th Century, it was forced to repeal this legislation and to recruit Catholic soldiers from Ireland. The pastoral needs of these soldiers were generally met by the independent Catholic Missionaries, largely established by the Portuguese or the French.

Following Catholic emancipation in England and Wales (1829) Irish soldiers prevailed upon the presidency authorities to provide English-speaking Catholic chaplains and churches for their use. These were established beginning in the mid-1830s. Again, their BMD returns were made to the presidency ecclesiastical authorities. Initially, these returns were filed separately (N/x/RC series, where x=1 for Bengal, x=2 for Madras and x=3 for Bombay) but after a few years, they were amalgamated with the Anglican records.


Missionary and Non-Conformist Records, including the Church of Scotland

It may be noted that a number of independent missionary and non-conformist churches were requested to return their BMD records to the presidency authorities. The latter considered it necessary to record proof of relationships of its employees for official purposes such as rights to pension, etc. A number of priests refused to do this, largely on the grounds of time taken and of cost. Accordingly, many of their vital events are not recorded in the APAC today. Foremost among these are the records of the large numbers of Catholic soldiers who used the missionary churches during the thirty years or so before emancipation. To obtain details from these ‘missing’ records, it is necessary to visit the church where the ceremony was performed and to apply to see the original register.

With the passage of time, the BMD returns became increasingly included and therefore more likely to feature in the ‘N’ series of returns at the APAC. Note, however, that for some reason, a number of marriages performed in the Church of Scotland feature in the Registry Office Marriages.

Regional breakdown of ecclesiastical records

(Baptisms, Marriages and Burials)
Catalogue Section Presidency or Region Range of Volumes Range of Years LDS Film Range* (I = Index)
N/1 Bengal 1 – 641 1713 – 1948 498954 - 535699
. . RC/1-5 1842 – 1844 527437
N/2 Madras 1 – 176 1698 – 1948 463296 - 527486
. . RC/1-8 1835 – 1854 530008 - 530011
. Cochin 177 1751 – 1804 .
N/3 Bombay 1 – 178 1709 – 1948 462965 - 523914
. . RC/1-5 1842 – 1844 528361
N/4 India and Pakistan 1 – 8 1949 – 1968 527415 - 527421
N/5 Indian States 1 – 2 1890 – 1946 498603 (I) & 527422-3
N/6 St. Helena 1 – 3 1767 – 1835 498603 (I) & 498605
N/7 Fort Marlborough 1 1759 – 1825 498603 (I) & 498606
N/8 Penang (Prince of Wales Island) 1 1799 – 1829 498603 (I) & 498606
N/9 Macao & Whampoa 1 1820 – 1834 498603 (I) & 498606
N/10 Burma 1 – 7 1937 – 1957 527436 (I) & 534495
N/11 Registry Office Marriages 1 – 11 1852 – 1911 Not Filmed
N/12 Kuwait Political Agency 1 – 16 1937 – 1961 Not Filmed
N/13 Aden 1 – 21 1840 – 1969 Believed unfilmed
N/14 Register Lists .
. (Registration Act 1886) .
. . 1 Bengal
. . 2 Bombay
. . 3 Madras, Assam, Burma, Central Provinces and Punjab

* or Film Numbers to insert into LDS Catalogue to yield full range. Note: The LDS tend to classify the locations of these ecclesiastical events according to the present day Indian States, which the researcher will have to relate to the provinces of the former British Presidencies.

Other sources


Churches

  • Churches in South India, a list of postal addresses and phone numbers of all bishops of CSI dioceses in India, correct in 1993.
  • Churches in North India, a list of the postal addresses and phone numbers of all bishops of CNI dioceses in India, correct in 1993.
  • Catholic Churches in Madras, a list of Roman Catholic churches in Madras, with their date of building and approximate location. This list was kindly transcribed by Peter Bailey.
  • Calcutta, a reference to a listing of church records in Calcutta to 1800.


External links

  • Local Catholic Church History in India. This is a terrific site by Ann Mensch which provides a wealth of information on all Indian Catholic dioceses, as well as some interesting links on Catholic family history.
  • This India List post gives details of a [marriage] Banns book at Roman Catholic churches. The example mentioned contained information additional to the marriage record.
  • Photos of Churches in India. Stephen Luscombe has a fascinating website on the British Empire which includes, amongst other things, photos of former British churches in India. The whole site is worth exploring for general information on the British Empire.