Swedish Church Accounts Record (Kyrkräkenskaper)

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Kykräkenskaper are the financial records of a parish. They provide an accounting of the income and donations, and the expenses. These records were often included with the earliest church book of a parish. Later the kyrkräkenskaper became a separate book of its own. The records were usually organized according to purpose such as:


 * Fattigvårdsräkenskaper (financial records of the poor house)


 * Skolräkenskaper (financial records of the school)


 * Vinsädesräkenskaper (a portion of the tithing used for buying the communion wine)


 * Lasarettsräkenskaper (financial records of the hospital)


 * Kollekträkenskaper (record of collections)

Räkenskap records are known for being well preserved and are often the earliest record type for a parish. There are kyrkräkenskap records dating back to medieval times. Among the “income to the parish” you can find donated gifts such as:


 * Donated funds from a last will and testament


 * Donations for a “service” such as the ringing of the bells for a funeral, or the digging of a grave


 * A donation for the rental of the bridal crown

Tips

 * When the birth and christening records don’t exist for a parish, check the räkenskaper to see if any fees were paid at the time of a christening.


 * When the engagement and marriage records don’t exist for a parish, check the räkenskaper to see if any fees were paid at the time of a wedding.


 * When the death and burial records don’t exist for a parish, check the räkenskaper to see if any fees were paid at the time of burial.