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Original poster

Baptismal records

23 replies

MarleneH · 12/01/2023 21:34

Good evening all

can anyone answer if baptismal records are public?

our small children are baptised and I’m just worried as I’ve just gathered that they are public for people to view? This wasn’t mentioned to me before/ during or after the baptism?

please could someone elaborate

marlie. X

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 12/01/2023 21:36

Into what denomination/ church were they baptised?

Why does this worry you??

LIZS · 12/01/2023 21:38

The church registers are public, although probably only by specific request.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 12/01/2023 21:40

Ask at the church about this. What are you afraid of? Someone's disapproval? Surely it's up to you, as the parents? Your decision and no-one else's business.

JanglyBeads · 12/01/2023 21:58

Baptism is a sacrament dedicating a child to God but also making them a member of Christ's church. The latter is a public matter.

I'd have hoped this was all explained to you.

Did you have a private service?

Original poster
MarleneH · 12/01/2023 22:04

i just don’t want my children as a public matter

OP posts:
Original poster
MarleneH · 12/01/2023 22:05

So where are these public records held?

OP posts:
LIZS · 12/01/2023 22:06

At the church they were baptised at. They are unlikely to be on display though.

Original poster
MarleneH · 12/01/2023 22:09

Thank you. and do they stay at the church, or do they go to a record office etc?

OP posts:
LIZS · 12/01/2023 22:37

Think they will stay there until they are archived. Ask the churchwardens or vicar where they are kept and for how long.

gogohmm · 12/01/2023 22:48

They are stored in a safe at our church. Nobody gets to look at it (if a request is made you get a copy of the entry) they are not secret but if a request was made for a record of a child we would request details of why and who is requesting it, usually its parents for confirmation purposes

JanglyBeads · 12/01/2023 22:50

Do you realise that anyone can apply (to the General Register Office) to see their birth certificates too?

www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Cherryblossoms85 · 12/01/2023 22:51

Just think, you used to be able to find out phone numbers by looking in a book!

Toddlerteaplease · 12/01/2023 22:58

If it's church if England, the registers are held In the local records office. If it's RC the records are kept in parishes then stored in the diocesan archives. (I spent some time labelling ours last year)
You can ask to have copies of the entry for various reasons. But they aren't on public display.

Toddlerteaplease · 12/01/2023 23:00

I might be wrong but I think C of E ones class as legal documents. RC ones are not.

Original poster
MarleneH · 12/01/2023 23:20

Thank you, and who can access these records when in the diocesan archives? And when do they get passed over to them please x

thanks x

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 12/01/2023 23:46

Anyone can access them. The church is a public body.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2023 21:51

MarleneH · 12/01/2023 23:20

Thank you, and who can access these records when in the diocesan archives? And when do they get passed over to them please x

thanks x

The only people who go in the archives are the staff and or volunteers who help out. I never saw anyone else while I was there. I really don't understand why your child entry is such an issue. Considering all the other data that's held about them elsewhere. It's only the basics: name, age , parents and godparents.

ofwarren · 13/01/2023 21:54

Toddlerteaplease · 12/01/2023 22:58

If it's church if England, the registers are held In the local records office. If it's RC the records are kept in parishes then stored in the diocesan archives. (I spent some time labelling ours last year)
You can ask to have copies of the entry for various reasons. But they aren't on public display.

I don't think that's the same for every church of England church. I was baptised 35 years ago and last year I emailed the church to find out the date of my baptism and the vicar replied with the date, time and who officiated.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2023 22:19

@ofwarren I suppose it depends on if the registers are still being used. Some parishes may have so few baptisms, that they last for secret generations. I saw a couple that were used from the 1950's until very recently.

ofwarren · 13/01/2023 22:20

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2023 22:19

@ofwarren I suppose it depends on if the registers are still being used. Some parishes may have so few baptisms, that they last for secret generations. I saw a couple that were used from the 1950's until very recently.

It's a massive church in the middle of a huge town. Always busy with weddings and Christenings.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2023 22:21

I found it absolutely fascinating to read the old ones. And any notes added, confirmation, marriage and ordination dates.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2023 22:22

@ofwarren not sure then in its C of E what the rules are. Presumably there are guidelines about them somewhere. I was in an RC archive.

CraftyGin · 13/01/2023 22:24

Our records are kept in church up to a point, then they go to our county history centre.

The amount of personal information is very limited.

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