India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths for the church in the Diocese of Madras, Church of South India. The Church of South India was created as a successor to the Church of England after India's independence in 1947. It is a union of the Anglican Church in India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka; the South Indian Methodist Church; and the South Indian United Church. The South Indian United Church was formed by a merger of Congregationalist, Dutch Reformed, and Presbyterian churches in 1908.

For many of the volumes included in this collection the information found in the parish registers was entered by clerk in the diocesan offices from reports submitted by the several parishes. Because of this you may find records from multiple parishes on the same page, or several consecutive pages from the same parish.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Baptism
 * Date and place of baptism
 * Given name of child
 * Date of birth
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ occupations
 * Residence
 * Who performed the baptism

Marriage
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Names and ages of bride and groom
 * Previous marital status of bride and groom
 * Residence of bride and groom
 * Fathers’ names
 * Names of witnesses
 * Who performed the marriage

Burial
 * Date of death
 * Date and place of burial
 * Name and age of deceased
 * Deceased’s profession
 * Cause of death
 * Who performed the burial

How Do I Search This Collection?
As you are searching, it is helpful to know such information as:
 * The person's name
 * Their residence
 * Approximate time 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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each spouse to find a couple's birth records and parents' names
 * Compile the marriage entries for every person who has the same surname as the bride or groom; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual

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

 * When looking for an individual with a common name, look at all the search results before deciding which is the correct person. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to help with this decision
 * Try variations of given names and surnames. A person might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name
 * Vary the search terms. For example, expand the date range or search by either the given name or surname to return a broader list search results
 * If you can’t find your ancestor, search the records of nearby localities, such as India, Madras and Tamil Nadu Parish Records - FamilySearch Historical Records and India, Hindu Pilgrimage Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in India.
 * India Research Tips and Strategies

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Church of South India, Diocese of Madras, Parish registers, 1743-1990

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.

Índia, Diocese de Madras, Registros da Igreja Protestante (Registros Histórico do FamilySearch)