Episcopalian Church Records

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:44 pm

Hi Everyone

I am sure this has been asked before – but can’t find it on the Forum just now. Does anyone know when / how Episcopalian Church Records (marriages and baptisms) will be available for Scotland in general but Aberdeenshire in particular.

They are my final hope for some of my brick walls – I can find no trace of the origins of some of my lot – leaving me to conclude that they were either RC or Episcopalian (I think the latter being more likely as from mid 1830’s onwards they registered marriages and baptisms with Church of Scotland).

Thanks lots

Ted

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:51 pm

Hi Ted
i'd expect you may find that the local archives have them. Copies may well be held at NAS in Edinburgh as I know they have some Episcopal records. I think some may still be held locally by the churches themselves. You'd need to perhaps find the name of a specific church and try to find out where the records for that particular church were held.

They might have been from one of the several other breakaway/dissenting groups rather than Episcopalian. See
here

Best wishes
Lesley

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:11 pm

Thanks Lesley - much obliged

Ted

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:18 am

Hi Ted,
I was up in Aberdeen a few years ago looking for some Episcopalian ancestors and found the records in the Aberdeen University Archives. As far as I know, you have to go there yourself... and even then they only grudgingly hand them over (or maybe I just look suspicious?!). You can't make photos or copies yourself, but have to ask them to do it for you for a fee. Well, can't complain too much, because I was able to look in the original record books of baptisms, marriages and burials and finally found some elusive births!

Best of luck,
Sarah

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:20 am

Hi Sarah

Nice one - thanks for that. Luckily I have a work contact at Aberdeen University - I feel a favour request coming on !

Much obliged.

Ted

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:27 am

Hi Ted,
Let me know if it works out! I have to go back there one day and look further. Also need to find Episcopal registers in Glasgow... has anyone done this successfully? If so, I'd appreciate any tips.
All the best,
Sarah

TunjiLees · Post by **TunjiLees** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:53 am

Episcopal records are much harder to research compared to other Scottish churches because records are held by a variety of different archives, and some, still by churches themselves. The Episcopal church has also refused to allow the LDS to microfilm records, making research even harder.

The NAS (National Archives of Scotland) hold some Episcopal records, and I would start by checking whether the catalogue [ http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ ] has any church records of interest to you. Episcopal Church records will be under reference CH12.

After that, I would also check the NRAS (National Register of Archives for Scotland) catalogue [ http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineRegister/ ]. They made a survey of the location of Episcopal records in the 1980s, the results of which are on their catalogue, which should help find what records are held where.
Unfortunately, a number of churches did not participate in the NRAS survey, and there is perfect no way of knowing what other church records might exist or where they might be held. I advise you to look at the First and Second Statistical Account of Scotland [ http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/sas/sa ... &passback= ] for the area your ancestors resided in, and check for mention of episcopal congregations there.

If you find mention of a church of interest in the Statistical Accounts, and you can't find their records on the NAS or NRAS, then I suggest you try and contact the church itself to find out whether their parish registers have survived. If the church no longer exists, you could try contacting the head church of the diocese, or check the church history to see whether they were absorbed by another congregation, and try and contact them.

You should also check family history societies to see whether they have any publications with episcopal material. I know the Fife FHS does.

With episcopalian ancestors, you're in for a tough search; but it'll be all the more rewarding if you succeed!

Hope this helps,

T David

TunjiLees · Post by **TunjiLees** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:58 am

This book should give clues as to the different congregations as well.
http://books.google.be/books?id=Ceey5RQ ... navlinks_s

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:08 am

David & Sarah ( and Lesley too)

Thanks very much for your advice - seems like a hard slog ahead ! But as David says - probably would make a result all the more satisfying.

Regards

Ted