Manitoba Church Records

As civil registration of vital statistics was not generally practiced in Canada until provincial governments took responsibility in the late nineteenth century, church records may be consulted for birth, death, or marriage information prior to 1882.


 * Civil registration of vital statistics was not generally practiced in Canada until provincial governments took responsibility in the late nineteenth century.
 * The first Catholic parish was founded at Red River in 1818 by two priests. The Church of England (Anglican) began in the same area in 1820.
 * The Methodists were established at Rossville in 1840.
 * The Presbyterians first arrived in Assiniboin in 1851.
 * Baptists, Lutherans, and Mennonites were established in Manitoba in the 1870s as a result of the arrival of large numbers of Germanic and Slavic immigrants.
 * The Congregationalists, Methodists, and some of the Presbyterians were combined in 1925 to form the United Church of Canada.

A few Church of England, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United Church of Canada registers are available on microfilm at the Provincial Archives. The Church of England registers are indexed to 1900. For a complete list of Church of England, Roman Catholic, and Presbyterian registers held by the Provincial Archives see “Genealogical Sources in the Province of Manitoba,” Genealogical Journal 8:98.

Copies of various parish registers and other church records may be found in the National Archives of Canada and at the Family History Library. The Family History Library website is:  http://www.familysearch.org.

Addresses
Many records prior to 1884 as well as most records since then are still located in various parishes and congregations. For more information on the location and availability of these church records, contact Vital Statistics Consumer and Corporate Affairs or contact the appropriate denomination.

Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land 935 Nesbitt Bay Winnipeg, MB R3T 1W6 Telephone: 204-992-4200 Internet: http://www.rupertsland.ca/

Baptist The Canadian Baptist Archives McMaster Divinity College 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Telephone: 905-525-9140 Internet: http://www.mcmasterdivinity.ca/welcome/canadian-baptist-archives

Jewish Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada C116 - 123 Doncaster Street Winnipeg, MB R3N 2B2 Phone: 204-477-7461 Fax: 204-477-7465 Internet: https://www.jhcwc.org/archives Internet: https://www.jhcwc.org/genealogy

Lutheran Lutheran Historical Institute 7100 Ada Boulevard Edmonton, AB T5B 4E4 Telephone: 780-474-8156 Fax: 780-477-9829

Mennonite Mennonite Heritage Centre 600 Shaftesbury Boulevard Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4 Telephone: 204-888-6781 Fax: 204-831-5675 Internet: http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/

Orthodox Archives of the Ukrainian Canadian Experience University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Telephone: 204-474-7967 Fax: 204-474-7913 http://libguides.lib.umanitoba.ca/c.php?g=512168&p=3503643

Presbyterian The Presbyterian Church in Canada 50 Wynford Drive Toronto, ON M3C 1J7 Phone: 800-619-7301 Phone: 416-441-1111 Fax: 416-441-2825 Internet: http://www.presbyterian.ca/archives/contact.html

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg Catholic Centre 1495 Pembina Highway Winnipeg, MB R3T 2C6 Phone: 204-452-2227 Fax: 204-453-8179 Internet: http://www.archwinnipeg.ca/parishes.php

Archdiocese of St. Boniface 151 Avenue de la Cathédrale St. Boniface, MB R2H 0H6 Phone: 204-237-9851 Fax: 204-231-2652 Internet: http://www.archsaintboniface.ca/

United Church of Canada Archives Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Archives The University of Winnipeg Library 515 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9 Telephone: 204-783-0708 Fax: 204-786-1824 Internet: http://uccarchiveswinnipeg.ca/about-us/ucc-archives-network/ (An appointment is recommended.)

Church Records
Church records in Manitoba predate vital statistics records. The first Roman Catholic parish was established in the Red River in 1818 followed by the Church of England (Anglican) in 1820. In 1840 the Methodists came to Rossville, near Norway House, while the Presbyterians arrived in Assiniboine in 1851. As the Germanic people started to arrive in the 1870s the Baptist, Mennonite and Lutheran churches appeared in Manitoba. In 1925 the Congregationalists, Methodists and some of the Presbyterians combined to form the United Church of Canada. Church records may be found in local churches or in the case of closed churches in church archives. Some of the pre-1882 records are available at the Library and Archives Canada and the Archives of Manitoba.

A list of which church records are found in local communities is found in The Inventory of Archival Records in Western Manitoba or Inventory of Archival Records in Eastern Manitoba. Other sources to check for the names of a local church are directories, local histories and newspapers. Do not limit your search to baptism, marriage and burial records, check to see if there are lists of confirmations, communion rolls, family registers and church minutes. Many early church records indicate where people came from including the name of their former church and where it was located. Some early church records may be kept in the language of origin for the church community such as German or any of the Scandinavian languages.

Guides

 * Coates, K.S. and J.C. Everitt, W.R. Morrison, Kempthorne, Roberta, editors. Inventory of Archival Material in Western Manitoba. 3 volumes. Brandon, Manitoba: Brandon University Press, 1987-1989.


 * Everitt, J.C. and Roberta Kempthorne, editors. Inventory of Archival Material Volume IV Eastern Manitoba. Brandon, Manitoba: Brandon University Press, 1991.

Library and Archives Canada
The Library and Archives Canada provides access to the catalogue for the National Library and 1,300 other libraries in Canada. Among other things, it has copies of most of the published marriage indexes for Canada. The Genealogy and Family History page provides detailed guidance for searching the databases. For example, microfilmed birth, marriage, and death records can be located by following the these steps: Select the "Consult Databases" link in the "What You Can Do" section; then the "Births, Marriages and Deaths Recorded in Canada" link; and finally the "Search Database" link. Microfilm containing the records thus identified can be borrowed through inter-library loan.

Guide

 * Campeau, Marielle, compiler and revised by Patricia Birkett.A Checklist of Parish Registers: Répertoire des registers paroissiaux, 1986. 4th edition. Ottawa: National Archives of Canada, 1986.

Family History Library
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has some microfilm copies of church records in Manitoba. Copies of these films can be accessed through FamilySearch Centers located worldwide. Check the FamilySearch Catalog for details.

Archives of Manitoba
The Archives of Manitoba have microfilm and paper copies of records for some Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic churches, plus All Souls Unitarian and the Shaarey Zedek Jewish Congregation, Winnipeg. Restrictions apply. There are finding aids online for each set of records that provide the names of the parishes, the years covered and the microfilm numbers.

Anglican Churches
There are three Anglican dioceses in Manitoba. If the records you are interested in are not in the local church contact the diocese office for more information about where they may be held.


 * Anglican Diocese of Brandon Box 21009 W.E.P.O. Brandon, Manitoba R7B 3W8&lt;3W8&gt;Telephone: (204) 727-7550 Email: [mailto:diobran@mts.net diobran@mts.net]

This diocese, which was created in 1913, covers the western third of the province


 * Anglican Diocese of Keewatin (Northern Manitoba and Northwest Ontario)

This diocese was created in 1899, and covered most of Northern Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. On July 31, 2014, the Diocese of Keewatin ceased to function after the creation of the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh. Some parishes in the southern Ontario region were transferred to the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. The archival records were deposited at the General Synod Archives in Toronto in August 2014. The diocesan records cover contemporary and missionary work in north western Ontario and Eastern Manitoba and include missions that were originally administered by the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. Included are the correspondence and administrative records of bishops, clergy, catechists, missions, and Pelican Lake Residential School. The parish records include parish registers (baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials), administrative records, and some parish histories.


 * Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land 935 Nesbitt Bay Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 1W6 Telephone: (204) 992-4200 Email: [mailto:general@rupertsland.ca general@rupertsland.ca]

This was the first diocese in Manitoba, dating from 1820, when it covered most of what is now Western Canada but today covers central southern Manitoba.

Guide

 * MacDonald, Wilma. Guide to the Holdings of the Ecclesiastical Province and Dioceses of Rupert’s Land. Winnipeg: St. John’s College Press, 1986.

Baptist Church
Many Baptist congregations have deposited their original records in the Canadian Baptist Archives which is located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Remember that baptism is only as an adult.


 * Canadian Baptist Archives 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1 Telephone: (905) 525-9140 Extension 23511 Email: [mailto:cbarch@mcmaster.ca cbarch@mcmaster.ca]

Jewish Religious Records

 * The Genealogical Institute of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada Suite C140-123 Doncaster Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 2B2 Telephone: (204) 477-7460 Email: [mailto:jewishheritage@jhcwc.org jewishheritage@jhcwc.org]

The genealogical institute has extensive records of Jewish communities, organizations and individuals in Western Canada. The birth, marriage and burial records for 1907-1971 for Shaarey Zedek Synagogue are available for loan from the Archives of Manitoba.

Lutheran Church
To find the current addresses for Lutheran churches contact the following synod addresses:


 * Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod 201 - 3657 Roblin Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3R 0E2 Telephone: (204) 889-3760 Email: [mailto:mbnosynod@elcic.ca mbnosynod@elcic.ca]


 * Lutheran Church-Canada 3074 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3K 0Y2 Telephone: (204) 895-3433 Toll free: 1- 800-588-4226 Email: [mailto:info@Lutheranchurch.ca info@Lutheranchurch.ca]


 * Central District Lutheran Missouri Synod 1927 Grant Drive Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 4V6 Telephone - Toll-free: 1-800-663-5673

Methodist and Mennonite Church
The records for the Methodist congregations that joined the United Church in 1925 are found in the Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Conference Archives. This centre has records for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.


 * Mennonite Church Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives 600 Shaftesbury Boulevard Winnipeg, Manitoba R3P 0M4 Telephone: (204) 888-6781 Email: [mailto:office@mennonitechurch.ca office@mennonitechurch.ca]

The archives have personal and congregation collections.

Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives and Records Office has original church records for several hundred Presbyterian congregations as well as microfilm copies of others. In addition to the church records there are session minutes which often contain births/baptisms and marriages. Communion rolls and registers list members of the congregation.


 * The Presbyterian Church In Canada Archives and Records Office 50 Wynford Drive Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7 Telephone: (416) 441-1111ext. 310 Email: [mailto:karnold@presbyterian.ca karnold@presbyterian.ca]

Index

 * Lareau, Paul J. and Julien Hamelin, compilers. Manitoba Marriages: Mariages du Manitoba. 3 volumes. Ottawa: Centre de généalogie, 1984.

Archdiocese of St. Boniface

 * Archdiocese of St. Boniface Centre du patrimoine-records of baptisms, confirmation, marriages and burials 340 boul. Provencher St. Boniface, Manitoba R2H 0G7 Telephone: (204) 233-4888 Email: [mailto:shsb@shsb.mb.ca shsb@shsb.mb.ca]

Guides

 * Fortier, Alfred and Agnes Labossiere.Répertoire des mariages du Fort Alexandre et missions, 1878-1955: Fort Alexandre (FTA), Manigotagan, Hole River. Saint-Boniface, Manitoba: Société de Saint-Boniface, 1985.


 * Fortier, Alfred. Répertoire des mariages: Laurier, MB, 1889-1982. Saint-Boniface, Manitoba: Société de Saint-Boniface, 1985.


 * Fortier, Alfred and Yvette Cenerini. Christian Delaquis, Lucille Jamault,Repértoire des mariages de Notre-Dame de-Lourdes, Manitoba, 1891-1982. St.-Leon, Manitoba: La société de historique de Lourdes, 1982.


 * Fortier, Alfred and Estelle Dupuis. Répertoire des mariages de la paroisse Precieux-San, Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, 1946-1984. Saint-Boniface, Manitoba: Société de Saint-Boniface, 1985.


 * Fortier, Alfred and Agnes Labossiere. Répertoire des mariages: Sacre-Coeur de Winnipeg, 1905 -1970. Saint-Boniface, Manitoba: Société de Saint-Boniface, 1985.


 * Fortier, Alfred and Suzanne Comte.Répertoire des mariages de Saint-Leon, Manitoba, 1879-1982. Saint-Leon, Manitoba: La société historique et généalogique de Saint-Leon, inc., 1982.


 * Hamelin, Julien, compiler.Répertoire des mariages de Saint-Boniface, 1825-1983. Ottawa: Centre de généalogie, 1985.

Archdiocese of Keewatin-LePas

 * Archdiocese of Keewatin-LePas P.O. Box 270 The Pas, Manitoba R9A 1K4 Telephone: (204) 623-6152 Email: [mailto:chancery@keepas.ca chancery@keepas.ca]

Guide

 * Fortier, Alfred and Yvette Gaudet. Mariages de Le Pas (Manitoba). 1911- 1983. Saint-Boniface, Manitoba: Société de Saint-Boniface, 1985.

Archdiocese of Winnipeg

 * Archdiocese of Winnipeg 1495 Pembina Highway Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2C6 Telephone: (204) 452-2227 Email: [mailto:archives@archwinnipeg.ca archives@archwinnipeg.ca]

The Archdiocese of Winnipeg has an archive section with guidelines about searching Catholic roots along with a sacramental record release form. Note the fee.

Guide

 * Jonasson, Eric. “The Roman Catholic Church in Manitoba and the West.” Generations: The Journal of the Manitoba Genealogical Society 1 (Spring 1976).

Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church

 * Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church 9 St. John’s Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R2W 1G8 Telephone: (204) 586-3093 Email: [mailto:consistory@uocc.ca consistory@uocc.ca]

The website has the addresses for eleven Ukrainian Orthodox churches in Manitoba.

United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada Archives holds the local church records of the United Church and its uniting denominations (Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian (1925 union); and Evangelical United Brethren—joined in 1968). The records of the churches which did not join at union but remained part of the continuing Presbyterian Church in Canada after 1925 are held in Toronto.

Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives and Record Office 50 Wynford Drive Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7 Telephone: 416-441-1111

Geographic Distribution: The Manitoba and Northwest Conference includes more than just Manitoba. You will also find records of some bordering municipalities in Ontario. Other United Church local church records are available in Conference archives across Canada.

United Church of Canada Archives (as of September 16, 2013) 40 Oak Street, Lower Level Toronto, Ontario M5A 2C6 Email:[mailto:archives@united-church.ca archives@united-church.ca]

Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario - United Church of Canada University of Winnipeg Library 515 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 Telephone: 204-783-0708 By appointment only Email:[mailto:d.haglund@uwinnipeg.ca d.haglund@uwinnipeg.ca]


 * Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Conference Archives Rare Book Room University of Winnipeg Library 515 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 Telephone: (204) 783-0708 Email: [mailto:d.haglund@uwinnipeg.ca d.haglund@uwinnipeg.ca]

The archive holds records of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches within the region prior to 1925, and of the United Church of Canada after 1925.

Guide

 * Butcher, Dennis L. et al. Prairie Spirit: Perspectives on the Heritage of The United Church of Canada in the West. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1985. Includes A Guide to the United Church Archives, Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario,. by Catherine MacDonald, pp. 333-342.


 * Guide to Family History Research in the Archival Repositories of the United Church of Canada. Toronto: The Ontario Genealogical Society, 1996.


 * Individual Charge Indexes to United Church Archives Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Conference: Baptisms, Marriages and Burials. 2 volumes. (43 rural and Winnipeg charges), Winnipeg: Manitoba Genealogical Society, 1996-2000.

[Ukrainian Catholic] Archeparchy of Winnipeg Museum and Archives 233 Scotia Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3V 1V7 Telephone: 204-338-7801 Email:[mailto:uccarchives@gmail.com uccarchives@gmail.com]