Most churches kept careful records and can be a goldmine of information. However, these records weren't always preserved and there isn't a central repository. Locating these records, especially those that haven't been digitized requires dedication, effort and some "old fashioned" offline leg work.
To locate church records you need to know several things before starting the search:
Your ancestor's religion. This can be found by using birth, marriage, death, and census records, as well as newspapers, the family bible, and in some cases cemetery records (is your ancestor buried in a cemetery meant for a specific church or religion?). Your ancestor's ethnicity might also provide some clues - if they were British they were likely Anglican or possibly Catholic, if German or Scandinavian they may have been Lutheran or Mennonite, if Irish or French they were likely Catholic.
Where your ancestor lived. With the exception of the Church of England (funded by the British Crown until 1815), the responsibility of building and maintaining each church fell to the parishioners. If a population of a certain religion wanted a church of their own, they would have to raise the funds themselves. Places with larger and more settled populations were usually the first to establish churches.
Parish boundaries are also a factor - if there was more than one parish in one area your ancestor may have had to attend the parish that covered the area where they lived even if the other parish was closer (it would depend where the boundary lie - much like today's school districts). Take care to note that boundaries changed over the years, if your ancestor disappears from the records of one church, check nearby parishes.
If your ancestor was an early settler in the area, you may even be lucky enough to find a notation in a local history source that he donated the land for the church. In any case, local history books can tell you what churches existed and when they were built, and sometimes they even give lists of early members.
When your ancestor lived. When Ontario became a British colony in 1763, it was hoped by the governing entity that it would become an Anglican population. Until the 1790's only the Anglican church was recognized. It was then that the government started allowing other religions to perform religious ceremonies. If your ancestor lived during this period and you can't find church records from their religion, look towards the Anglican church.
Local Churches. If your ancestor lived too far from a church of their religion they may have used the services of the nearest church even if it wasn't their religion. Some churches charged fees for some services so cash-strapped settlers may have chosen to use free services offered by other churches.
Circuit Ministers travelled from town to town performing needed religious ceremonies in communities that lacked a church of that religion. If your ancestor used a circuit minister the church records would have been sent to the church the minister was affiliated with. To find these records first start with the church archives of your ancestor's religion. Next, check local newspapers of the time period to see if a notice of a minister's visit was announced.
Once you have this information, the hard part begins - locating if church records still exist, and if so, where. Some church records are still with the original church, others have been sent to the church archives for safe keeping, and some, unfortunately, have been lost or destroyed. There's no central list or repository indicating what records were kept, if they survived or where they can be found.
Start your search with the church itself. Does it still exist? If yes, contact them and inquire where their records are kept and if you are able to access them. If no, or you don't know where to find the church, check the Church Archives (see also Sources of Religious Records in Ontario). Keep in mind that many church archives were created for the use of the church and are not equipped to handle genealogy enquries. [Note: In 1925 the Methodist Church, Congregational Church and Presbyterian Church came together as the United Church of Canada].
Consult genealogy groups & societies that cover the area where the church existed. They may know if records exist and where they may be.
Enquire at local churchs of the same religion as your ancestor's church. The current minister or preacher may know where their religious records are kept.
Check libraries, archives, museums and online genealogy resources (free and fee based). Some church records have been transcribed and are available in book form. Some have been microfilmed and can be viewed at an archive or library. Some have been digitized and can be viewed at an archive or library, or if you're lucky, they are available online.
| Record | Information it may contain | Where (Possibly) Available |
|---|---|---|
| Baptisms | Name of person baptised Date of baptism Name of clergy Names of parents, godparents Sometimes date & place of birth | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada Family Search $ Ancestry $ Find My Past |
| Marriages | Names of bride & groom Names of their parents Name of clergy Names of witnesses | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada Family Search $ Ancestry $ Find My Past |
| Burials | Name of deceased Date of burial Name of clergy These records are rare and not usually part of official church records | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada Family Search $ Ancestry $ Find My Past |
| Funerals | Name of deceased Date of funeral Name of clergy Possibly names of those attending | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada |
| Church Minutes | Summary of board meetings (who attended, what was discussed) Some may refer to births, marriages or deaths of members Community events Social issues Reprimands for those not following church rules | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada |
| Membership Lists / Communion Rolls | Names of church members, possibly when they joined or left | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada |
| Clergy | Names of clergy who presided at the church | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada |
| Bulletins, Newspapers, Newsletters | Some churchs had publications for keeping their members up-to-date. These may have mentioned births, marriages and deaths, as well as profiles of church members, new parishioners, new clergy, and church events. | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada |
| Financial Records | Might include costs of maintenance, additions, donations collected Names of those who donated, and results of fundraising. Some churchs would sell or rent pews to parishioners, others would accept donations for specific items (e.g. a new window) and dedicate the item to those who donated. | Church Archives Archives of Ontario Library & Archives Canada |
