South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives) - FamilySearch Historical Records
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Record Description | |
Record Type: | Church Registers |
Collection years: | 1660-1970 |
Languages: | Afrikaans, Dutch, English |
Title in the Language: | Suid-Afrika, Kaap Provinsie Nederduitse Hervormde Kerk Rekords, 1660-1970 |
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State Archives, Cape Province |
What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]
This collection dates from 1660 through 1970 and includes records of baptisms, marriages, and membership records for South Africa. The collection also includes marriage records for Karas, Namibia from 1936 through 1960. The Dutch Reformed Church records have been well maintained and are in good condition. Baptisms and marriages are found in different registration formats, usually in bound registers, which are kept at the local church archives in the care of the registrar. Since 1928 the registrar sends the registries to be archived at the Central Archive of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town, South Africa.
When South Africa was settled by the Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries, they transplanted their Dutch Reformed theology into the African continent. The Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa was formally established in 1652 and became the only official church in South Africa until 1778 when freedom of public worship was given to other churches. The history of the Dutch Reformed Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa.
The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa consists of three separate churches: the Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk (the largest and usually called the Dutch Reform Church; the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (largely restricted to the Transvaal); and the Gereformeede Kerk in Suid Afrika (the Doppers). During the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Dutch Reformed Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and many white residents of the Cape belonged to it. In later years other church denominations were created in Cape, leading to a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reformed Church.
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Reading These Records[edit | edit source]
These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading them see:
To Browse This Collection[edit | edit source]
You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970. |
What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]
The following information may be found in these records:
Baptism:
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Marriage:
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Collection Content[edit | edit source]
For additional details about these records and help using them see South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.
Sample Images[edit | edit source]
Coverage Table[edit | edit source]
The collection includes records from the following municipalities in Namibia and South Africa:
How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
Search the Index[edit | edit source]Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
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How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log. What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
Research Helps[edit | edit source]The following articles will help you in your research for your family in South Africa. Other FamilySearch Collections[edit | edit source]These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research. FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Historical Records[edit | edit source]
Known Issues[edit | edit source]Click here for a list of known issues with this collection. Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
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