Minnesota Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records from various denominations in Minnesota, for the years 1798 to 1991. The record content and time period varies by denomination. Some representative churches include:
 * First Lutheran Church (St. Peter)
 * Swan Lake Lutheran Church (Brighton)
 * Garden City Methodist Episcopal Church (Garden City)
 * First Free Presbyterian Church (Traverse)
 * United Methodist Church (Lafayette)
 * St. Paul's United Church of Christ (Plato)
 * St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Mankato)

Reading These Records
Some of these records are written in German. For Help Reading These Records

What Can these Records Tell Me?
Church records may contain:
 * The names of the church members
 * Dates of significant events, such as birth, baptism, marriage, death, and burial
 * The names of parents
 * The names of other relatives

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The approximate date and or location of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records on a county and state level for birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Minnesota.
 * Minnesota Guided Research
 * Minnesota Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.