User:Hanna5974/sandbox/alabama

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. Sometimes, you will only find a simple membership list. This outline will show the types of details which might be found in the best case scenario. Denominations following practices learned in Europe, where there are state churches (such as the Anglican/Episcopal, Catholic, and Lutheran), are more likely to have full records.

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:

Marriages
Marriage registers can give:

Burials
Burial registers may give:

Step 2: Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

 * Online church records can be listed in the FamilySearch Catalog state-wide, county-wide, or for a town.
 * 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 Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:
 * a. Click on the [STATE LINK records of STATE].
 * b. Click on Places within STATE and a list of counties will appear.
 * c. Click on your county if it appears.
 * d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Click on Places within COUNTY and a list of towns will appear.
 * f. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * g. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * h. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. FHL icons.png. 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.

Step 4: Correspond with or Visit Church Archives and/or Local Churches.
Some denominations centralize storage of church records. The most recent records are still held in the local churches. For addresses for these, see listings under each denomination. See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

Writing to Local Churches
Mennonite Church Finder

Writing to Local Churches

 * Episcopal Church Find a Church

Writing to Local Churches

 * USAChurches.org Baptist Church Directory

Writing to Local Churches

 * Christian Reformed Church Finder
 * Reformed Church in America Church Finder

Online Resources
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.

Writing to Local Churches
Community of Christ Church Finder

Writing to Local Churches
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 * National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Member Churches Map

Writing to Local Churches

 * Jehovah's Witnesses Find a Meeting (Congregation)

Writing to Local Churches

 * ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Congregation Finder
 * AFLC Association of Free Lutheran Congregations Church Finder
 * NALC North American Lutheran Church Congregations
 * AALC American Association of Lutheran Churches Church Finder
 * CLC Church of the Lutheran Confession Church Finder
 * ELCM Evangelical Lutheran Conference & Ministerium of North America Church Finder
 * ELDONA Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America Parish Finder
 * LCR Lutheran Churches of the Reformation Congregations
 * ELS Evangelical Lutheran Synod Church Finder
 * LCMS The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Church Finder
 * LCMC Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Church Finder

Writing to Local Churches

 * United Methodist Church Find a Church
 * USA Churches Methodist Church Directory

Writing to Local Churches

 * Church Angel Orthodox Churches Directory
 * Parishes Greek Orthodox Churches in America
 * Orthodox Church in America Parish Finder
 * Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America Directory of Parishes
 * Russian Orthodox Church Finder

Writing to Local Churches

 * USAChurches.org Pentecostal Church Directory
 * ChurchAngel.com Listing of Assemblies of God
 * ChurchAngel.com Evangelical Church Directory

Writing to Local Churches

 * Presbyterian Church in America Church Directory

Writing to Local Churches

 * Friends General Conference Quaker Directory

Writing to Local Churches
The Catholic Directory
 * Catholic Churches of the Maronite Rite
 * Melkite Greek Catholic Church Parish Locator

Writing to Local Churches

 * Adventist Church Finder

Writing to Local Churches

 * FIND A UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION

Writing to Local Churches

 * This page covers the major Christian denominations. Your ancestors may have belonged to an independent local church that was not affiliated with any of these larger bodies. To find these smaller churches in Google Maps, search the name of your ancestors's town using the keywords "churches near [TOWN NAME]."
 * It is also possible to find some churches with immigrant-based congregations, such as Armenian, Latvian, Lithuanian, by using Google.