Uruguay Church Records

=Online Resources and Websites=
 * FamilySearch, index, incomplete.
 * Uruguay, Select Baptisms, 1750-1900, Ancestry.com, ($), index, incomplete.
 * Uruguay, Baptisms, 1750-1900, MyHeritage, ($), index, incomplete.
 * , FamilySearch, index.
 * Uruguay, Select Civil Registration Records, 1870-1930, Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * Uruguay, Civil Registration, MyHeritage, ($), index, incomplete.
 * , index.
 * , FamilySearch, index, incomplete.
 * Uruguay, Select Marriages, 1840-1900, Ancestry.com, ($), index, incomplete.
 * Uruguay, Marriages, 1840-1900, MyHeritage, ($), index, incomplete.


 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages,, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index and images, ($)

=Historical Background= Uruguay has no official religion; church and state are officially separated, and religious freedom is guaranteed. A 2008 survey by the INE of Uruguay showed Catholicism as the main religion, with 45.7% of the population and 9.0% are non-Catholic Christians. Among the sizeable Armenian community in Montevideo, the dominant religion is Christianity, specifically Armenian Apostolic. The first Anglican church in the country was erected in 1844 by British traders, and is considered a historical landmark. Other religious groups in Uruguay include the Jehovah's Witnesses.

=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. This outline will show the types of details which might be found (best case scenario);

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:

=How to Find Records=

Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog
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 records of Uruguay.
 * b. Click on Places within Uruguay and a list of towns will appear.
 * c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. 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.

Writing for Records
You will probably need to write to or email the national archives, the diocese, or local parish priests to find records. See the Spanish Letter Writing Guide for help with composing letters.

= Catholic Church Records =

Writing to a Local Parish
To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a local parish, consult:
 * The Catholic Directory: Uruguay

Historical Background
There are 2.3 million Catholics in the country, 53% of the total population. There are 9 dioceses and the archdiocese of Montevideo.

Evangelization of Uruguay followed Spanish settlement in 1624. Montevideo became a diocese in 1878, after being erected as a Vicarate in 1830. Missionaries followed the reduction pattern of gathering Indians into communities, training them in agriculture, husbandry, and other arts, while forming them in the Faith.

The constitution of 1830 made Catholicism the religion of the state and subsidized missions to Indians. In 1878, Montevideo was elevated to Diocese and, in 1897, to Archdiocese. The constitution of 1917 enacted separation of Church and state.

Two Eastern Catholic churches are also present in Uruguay, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Maronite Church.

=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records=

Online Records
Information is available to current members only 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.

Historical Background
Total Church Membership: 106,177. Congregations: 139.

Uruguay's first contact with the Church occurred at the 1940 South American basketball championship game held in Montevideo. One of Argentina's star players, Rolf Larson, served as a missionary for the Church in Argentina, and brought publicity to the Church as a team member.

In 1944, the first congregation was organized for North Americans working in Uruguay. By the end of 1948, a mission and 14 congregations were organized.

=Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Clickable Parish Directory
 * Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Uruguay

Historical Background
=Armenian Apostolic Church Records=

Writing for Records
=Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records=
 * Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Uruguay

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Jehovah's Witnesses churches in Uruguay

Historical Background
=Maronite Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Uruguay

=Pentecostal Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Uruguay

=Seventh-day Adventist Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Uruguay

Historical Background
=References=