Botswana Church Records

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

Online Resources and Websites
'''Ancestry.com, findmypast.com, and MyHeritage.com can be searched free of charge at your local family history center or the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011, index and images, includes Botswana
 * South Africa, Reformed Church Records, 1856-1988, images, includes Botswana


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

Historical Background
An estimated 77% of the country's citizens identify as Christians. Anglicans, Methodists, and the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa make up the majority of Christians. There are also congregations of Lutherans, Baptists, Roman Catholics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), the Dutch Reformed Church, Mennonites, Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses in the country.

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:

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 Botswana.
 * b. Click on Places within Botswana 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 Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.
 * Maps.me Directory of 54 churches in Botswana

Online Records

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

Writing for Records
Anglican Diocese of Botswana Plot 5349 Church Road, Ext 10 PO Box 769 Gaborone, Botswana Email address: info@anglicanbotswana.org.bw Phone: (26) 7395 3779
 * Find a Church Directory
 * Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Botswana
 * Website
 * Facebook

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Botswana

Writing to a Local Parish
Earlier records can be held at the diocese, with more recent records still kept in the local parish. To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a diocese or local parish, consult:
 * The Catholic Directory: Botswana

Historical Background
The Catholic Church in Botswana is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in the Vatican City. Catholics represent about 5-6% of the total population. Initially Catholic missionaries were not allowed in Botswana by native tribes at the urging of Protestant missionaries who arrived first. Missionaries began to work in Botswana in 1928, and were noted for setting up schools and clinics. The church in Botswana is organized into the Diocese of Gaborone, which serves the southern portion of the country, and the Diocese of Francistown, which serves the faithful of northern communities.

Online Records
Online information is available to current members, 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: 3,524. Congregations:15. Missionary work in Botswana began in 1990. Among the first converts was Kwasi Agyare Dwomoh, an architect from Ghana working for the Botswana government. Dwomoh was called as the first branch president in 1991. A branch is a small congregation. He later became the first district president in Botswana. By March of 1992, the fast-growing branch was ready to be divided into two branches as the membership had grown to 160. And in 1992 a third branch was organized in the city of Lobatse.

Online Records

 * South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011, index and images, includes Botswana
 * South Africa, Reformed Church Records, 1856-1988, images, includes Botswana

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Dutch Reformed churches in Botswana

Historical Background
The Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana was founded by Swiss missionaries led by Rev. Henri Gronin begun working in 1863 among the tribe Bakgatla, Kgafela in Saulsport and Rustenburg in South Africa. In 1870, part of the tribe moved north to Botswana and the missionaries followed them. The great chief was baptized and most of the tribe followed him. In 1966, when Botswana become independent, a Synod of the Reformed Church was formed. In the 1970s, the church gained independence. The church in the following years expanded to Basarwa, Bakalanga and Bakgatla.

The denomination has 6,000 members and 13 parishes with 50 house fellowships in 2 presbyteries and one Synod. The 14 churches are in : Muchudi, Muchudi East, Muchudi West, Sikwane, Gaborone, Tlokweng, Lobatse, Kgalagadi, Ghanzi, Maun, Makaleng, Selebi Phikwe, Boseja (Mochudi).

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Jehovah's Witnesses churches in Botswana

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Lutheran churches in Botswana

Historical Background
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana is an Evangelical Lutheran church in Botswana. It has a membership of 22,000, and has been a member of the Lutheran World Federation since 1986. It is also affiliated with its regional expression, the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa.

Writing for Records
Brethren In Christ Church Plot 38817 Block6, Tlokweng Gaborone, Botswana PO Box 81207 Gaborone, Botswana Phone number: 392 8492

Historical Background
​Mennonite Central Committee began work in Botswana in the 1970s, providing schoolteachers and training in job skills. As a result of friendships with local African-Initiated Churches,Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission - with which Mennonite Mission Network is a partner--was invited to send Bible teachers. Beginning in 1975, six Mennonite denominations have sent workers to Botswana. In addition to Bible teaching among African-Initiated Churches, these workers are involved in AIDS education and counseling, community development, youth ministry, friendship evangelism, teaching and issues related to families.

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Botswana
 * Facebook

METHODIST CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA Plot 3178 Ext12 P.O. Box: 260 Gaborone, Botswana PHONE:+267 3167627 or +267 3162281 FAX: +267 3167627

Historical Background
See, The Development of Methodism in modern-day Botswana: 19th century Nationals in Mission?

Writing for Records

 * Church of St. Nicholas, breek Orthodox
 * Google Maps search results for Serbian Orthodox church in Botswana

Historical Background
The presence of Orthodox Christianity in Botswana is a recent event. Orthodox Christianity missionary efforts in Botswana began in the late twentieth century under the jurisdiction of the Church of Alexandria. Currently, Botswana is within the local jurisdiction of a new diocese, the Holy Diocese of Botswana.

The Diocese of Botswana was a part of the Archdiocese of Zimbabwe until it was detached on October 7, 2010 and placed under the leadership of His Grace Bishop Gennadios of Nilopolis. Bp. Gennadios was enthroned as the first Bishop of Botswana on June 2, 2012 by Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria in the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Gaborone, Botswana.

Communities of the diocese include the Church of St. Nicholas (including the chapels of St. Parthenios Bishop of Lampsakos and St. Peter Archbishop of Alexandria) in Gaborone.

Serbs in Botswana constitute one of the nation's larger immigrant communities, and are primarily found in and around the city of Gaborone.

The first waves of larger-scale Serbian immigration to the country occurred in the 1950s, with immigration continuing to the present day. The community of Serbs in Botswana is an active one, and regularly hosts events at the Serbian Society, which is a cultural center catering to the needs of Botswana Serbs.

Serbian Batswana also have two Serbian Orthodox churches in Gaborone, the church of Saint Sava and the church of Saint Nicholas, construction of which began in 2016. The Saint Sava Orthodox Church operates a school for Serbian Batswana to teach children the Serbian language and culture.

Writing for Records

 * Maps.me Directory of 54 churches in Botswana

Historical Background
Recently the number of Pentecostal churches has been rising. A strong revival has been going on and most churches conduct all-night prayer meetings. In these meetings the prayer requests include the leadership of the country and all the ministers in the body of Christ. Some of the churches include Pentecostal Protestant Church, Assemblies of God, Apostolic Faith Mission, Eloyi Christian Church, Pentecostal Holiness Church, Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana, Good News Ministries, Christ Embassy, Bible Life Ministries, Victory International Centre (VIC), First Love Church, to name but a few.

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Botswana
 * SDA Directory
 * Website
 * Botswana Union Conference Contact Information

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for United Congregational churches in Botswana
 * Facebook

Historical Background
The Congregational Church in southern Africa was founded by two strands – one from Europe and one from America.

The London Missionary Society (LMS) founded the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa in 1799 with the arrival of Dr Johannes van der Kemp and his team. Most of the early missionaries of the LMS came either from the Reformed Churches of northern Europe or the Calvinist atmosphere of Scotland.

Dr John Philip, superintendent of the LMS in South Africa, invited the first party of the American Board missionaries (ABM), led by Daniel Lindley and Newton Adams, to come to South Africa in 1835.