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Original poster

Where are baptism records kept

18 replies

Summerflowers101 · 23/12/2020 21:06

Hi,

I was baptised 30 years ago in a church that has just been burnt to the ground. I need a copy of my certificate to be able to get married. The church advised they haven’t managed to open the safe yet where records were kept and don’t know what condition they will be in. I am trying to figure out whether there is any way of finding a copy of my record elsewhere? Or will I need to be baptised again.

OP posts:
DonkeyMcFluff · 23/12/2020 21:08

The county records office?

DustyMaiden · 23/12/2020 21:09

I have seen baptism records on line for deceased relatives so would imagine it is possible they are stored electronically.

I do know people that were baptised as part of their wedding service it only added a few minutes.

AdaColeman · 23/12/2020 21:29

Have a look online at "find my past " parish register records, they might help.

When you were baptised, a certificate may have been issued to your parents, who could still have it with family papers, worth asking them?

Another possibility would be the diocesan records office? Worth a phone call?

Original poster
Summerflowers101 · 23/12/2020 21:37

Thank you so much! I’ll try all these options

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 26/12/2020 12:30

Is it Catholic or c of e? The Catholic Church will probably store the records in the diocesan archives. And you can get in touch with the diocesan archivist. Not sure what the C of E does.

Original poster
Summerflowers101 · 26/12/2020 12:50

Ahh it is CoE

OP posts:
AuntyPasta · 26/12/2020 12:57

Were you confirmed?

LIZS · 26/12/2020 13:04

Do you need the certificate? Our vicar assumed I was because df was active in the Church community - I wasn't! The local historical archive or diocese may hold some records.

rollinggreenhills · 26/12/2020 13:06

Which diocese are you in? I believe that local churches always used to send transcript copies of the parish registers to the bishop.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/12/2020 13:11

I'm not sure I it would still be the case now or if there is a 'back up' now... There is no official record of my baptism, or my brother's, or lots of others in my childhood parish. The book was stolen in the early 90s. The church relies on honesty for those several years.
(More worryingly, we've always been told to be on the lookout for iD theft, but neither my brother or I have had those issues)

Original poster
Summerflowers101 · 26/12/2020 17:33

I was not confirmed. I need the baptism certificate because I am marrying someone who is Catholic and I am having a Catholic wedding. I was baptised in Derby. I think if a certificate cannot be produced I will need to be baptised again.

OP posts:
MustDust · 26/12/2020 17:39

Do your parents have a photo of your baptism?

Tiggles · 26/12/2020 22:08

In essence Baptism records are only kept in the church - they aren't like wedding and funeral records that we have to send off to the county records office.

However, some churches send older documents off to the county archives. You might find they have sent off older service registers or Baptism records but it is unlikely, simply because the books they are stored in go back hundreds of years - my current burial register for example was started back in about 1850 and still has a long way to go before it is full. But you might be lucky if the old service registers (which are for all services not just special ones) have been stored there, but that might just say a Baptism took place on a certain day not your name.

Church safes however do have to be fire safe. So if the church becomes accessible, although if I'm guessing the right church it was badly damaged, the registers should hopefully be ok.

Toddlerteaplease · 26/12/2020 22:47

@Summerflowers101 very unlikely they would make you be baptised again, if your parents say you were definitely done. I'm trying to think of who the best person In the Diocese of Nottingham would be to check with.

Original poster
Summerflowers101 · 26/12/2020 22:52

I think I will hold off and see if they can somehow get into the safe. Good to know the safe should have been fire proof so the documents may have been preserved. I felt panicked with the unknowing and time pressure and didn’t feel I could hassle them for obvious reasons!

OP posts:
Serenschintte · 26/12/2020 22:52

Do you parents not have a copy of the baptismal certificate in their records? I’m RC and he is CoE and his parents had a copy made. It was sufficient. If not I think there is something called a conditional baptism as baptism cannot be repeated if it was done validly Sacramentally it leaves bd indelible mark on the soul

mostlydrinkstea · 27/12/2020 22:13

Older records should be in the county records office. When I arrived at this church I found baptism and marriage books for the last 50 years in the safe. If there is a fire then all the records have gone. It happens. If a record can't be found they might do a conditional baptism. The words are slightly different as the assumption is you have been baptised but as it can't be proved they are doing a belt and braces job.

cabbageking · 27/12/2020 22:32

There are lots on line. Try the free Mormon site or try the free 14 day trial with Ancestry. There are regular parish collections of data.

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