Bolivia Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Bolivia, go to the Religious Records page.

=Online Resources and Websites= Records for Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FndMyPast can be searched free-of-charge at a '''Family History Center near you.

FamilySearch Historical Records
 * , index, incomplete.
 * , index, incomplete.
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 * , dates vary, index and browsable images, incomplete.

Ancestry.com
 * Bolivia, Select Baptisms, 1560-1938, ($), index, incomplete.
 * Bolivia, Select Marriages, 1630-1940, ($), index, incomplete.
 * Bolivia, Select Deaths, 1750-1920, ($), index, incomplete.

MyHeritage
 * Bolivia Baptisms, 1560-1938, index, incomplete.
 * Bolivia Marriages, 1630-1940, index, incomplete.
 * Bolivia Deaths, 1750-1920, index, incomplete.

FindMyPast
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages,, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index and images, ($)

=Historical Background= Bolivia is a constitutionally secular state that guarantees the freedom of religion and the independence of government from religion. According to the 2001 census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Bolivia, 78% of the population is Roman Catholic, followed by 19% that are Protestant, as well as a small number of Bolivians that are Orthodox, and 3% non-religious.

Bolivia has an active Protestant minority of various groups, especially Evangelical Methodists. Other denominations represented in Bolivia include Mennonites and Anglicanism. Since the early 1950s there are Mennonites in Bolivia, mainly in Santa Cruz Department. In the 1980s, Seventh-day Adventists and various Pentecostal denominations gained increasing adherents.

=Information Recorded in the Records= Different denominations, different time periods, and practices of different record keepers will effect how much information can be found in the records. This outline will show the types of details which might be found (best case scenario);

Baptisms
In Catholic and Anglican records, children were usually baptized a few days after birth, and therefore, the baptism record proves date of birth. Other religions, such as Baptists, baptized at other points in the member's life. Baptism registers might give:

Marriages
Marriage registers can give:

Burials
Burial registers may give: =How to Find Records=

Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog
Watch for digitized copies of church records to be added to the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:
 * a. Click on the records of Bolivia.
 * b. Click on Places within Bolivia and a list of towns will appear.
 * c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

Writing for Records
You will probably need to write to or email the national archives, the diocese, or local parish priests to find records. See the Spanish Letter Writing Guide for help with composing letters.

=Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Bolivia

Historical Background
=Eastern Orthodox Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Eastern Orthodox churches in Bolivia

Historical Background
= Catholic Church Records =

Writing to a Local Parish
To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a local parish, consult:
 * The Catholic Directory: Bolivia

Historical Background
The Catholic Church in Bolivia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Catholicism was introduced in the 1530s and the first diocese was established in 1552. Evangelization among the Indians bore much fruit from the mid-18th to early 19th century, resuming again in 1840. The country declared independence from Spain in 1825.

Today, Bolivia is a predominantly Catholic country. Although the Church was disestablished as the state religion in early 2009, relations between Church and state are guided by a concordat signed with the Holy See in 1951. There are about seven million Catholics out of a total population of nine million.

=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records=

Online Records
Information is available to current members only for deceased members and immediate family members who are still living. Sign in to FamilySearch and then select Family Tree in the drop-down menu.

Historical Background
Total Church Membership: 207,534. Congregations: 257

=Methodist Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Bolivia

Historical Background
=Mennonite Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Bolivia

Historical Background
=Pentecostal Church Records=

Writing for Records
=Seventh-day Adventist Church Records=
 * Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Bolivia

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Bolivia

Historical Background
=References=