Ontario Church Records

--

Overview of Church Records
Consult church registers for records of baptisms, marriages, and burials before 1869—the year civil vital registration began in Ontario. These registers may be useful to 1930, when complete civil vital registration was finally achieved. Religious affiliation can be determined from family sources or census records beginning in 1851.

You should search the registers of all denominations in the area where your ancestor lived, since many baptisms were performed in the nearest church, regardless of the family's religious affiliation. At certain periods of Ontario's history, only some denominations were allowed to perform marriages. In many cases an individual had to be married by a priest or minister of a religion other than his own. The following history traces these changes:

1793: Before 1793, only Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy could legally perform marriages.

1793-1798 : Marriages could be performed by Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy and district clerks if the couple resided more than eighteen miles from an Anglican minister. Despite legal restrictions, a few Lutheran and Presbyterian ministers performed marriages before 1798 and recorded them in church registers.

1798-1831 : Anglican, Calvinist, Church of Scotland, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic clergy could perform marriages.

1831-1858 : All denominations mentioned above as well as Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians could perform marriages. Only non-Catholic and non-Anglican clergy were required to keep marriage registers for the inspection of civil authorities, separate from regular parish records.

1858-1869 : Clergy of all denominations could perform marriages. Clergy of all faiths were requested to transcribe information into county marriage registers; many did not comply.

Information Found in the Records
To effectively use church records, become familiar with their content. Click on these links to learn about a specific record type:

Look for online records.
'''Ancestry.com, FindMyPast.com, and MyHeritage.com can be searched free of charge at your local family history center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Online Records

 * 1661-1959 at FamilySearch; Index — How to Use this Collection
 * 1661-1949 at FamilySearch; Index — How to Use this Collection
 * 1664-1955 at FamilySearch; Index — How to Use this Collection
 * 1779-1899 at FamilySearch; index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * 1800-1910 at FamilySearch; index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * Upper Canada Western Ontario Baptisms Database Index
 * Upper Canada Central Ontario Baptisms Database Index
 * Upper Canada Eastern Ontario Baptism Indexes
 * 1801-1934 Beginning in 1831, clergy who performed marriages in churches that were neither Anglican nor Roman Catholic (also known as "non-conformist") were required to send copies of the records to the Clerks of the Peace in district towns. In some cases, clergy submitted earlier records, with the result that marriage records survive from as early as 1799. The records were transcribed into registers,
 * 1801-1928 Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1801-1948 at FamilySearch, index — How to Use this Collection
 * 1831-1865 at FamilySearch; Contains marriages, 1831-1865, for Church of Scotland, Lutherans, Congregationalists, Baptists, Independents, Methodists, Menonists, Tunkers, Presbyterians or Moravians.
 * 1896-1948 Ontario, Canada Marriage Registers by Clergy, 1896-1948 at Ancestry ($)
 * GRanDMA's Window

Catholic
 * 1747-1967 Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 at Ancestry ($)
 * List of parishes covered


 * 1760-1923 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection
 * For list of parishes covered, see


 * 1760-1923 Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923 at Ancestry, index and images, ($).
 * 1843-1915 at FamilySearch; images

Brethren in Christ
 * 1880 Brethren in Christ Membership Directory 1880
 * 1886 Brethren in Christ Membership Directory 1886
 * 1903 Brethren in Christ Membership Directory 1903

Dutch Reformed Christian Church
 * 1856-1970 Parish Registers of the Dutch Reformed Christian Church, United States, 1856 to 1970 at Ancestry, index and images, ($).

Evangelical
 * 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 at Ancestry, index and images, incomplete, ($)
 * '1842-1947 U.S., Evangelical Free Church of America, Swedish American Church Records, 1842-1947 at Ancestry, index and images, incomplete, ($)
 * 1868-1970 U.S., Evangelical Covenant Church, Swedish American Church Records, 1868-1970 at Ancestry, index and images, incomplete, ($)

Mennonite
 * Mennonite Immigrants
 * Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
 * Mennonite Heritage Center Online Collections Database
 * Menno Simons Historical Library Online Databases Vertical Files Index
 * Swiss Anabaptist Genealogical Association Databases

Methodist
 * Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register at Ancestry, index, ($)
 * Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Registers at RootsWeb

Quaker
 * 1786-1988 Canada, Quaker Meeting Records, 1786-1988, index and images, at Ancestry ($).
 * 1808-1930 U.S. and Canada, Quaker Yearly Meeting Annual Reports, 1808-1930, index and images, at Ancestry ($).
 * The Canadian Quaker Genealogical Index
 * The Canadian Quaker Collections

Look for digital copies of church records listed in the FamilySearch Catalog.

 * The Family History Library (FHL) has microfilmed and/or digitized records for churches in the Canada.
 * Online church records can be listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under Prince Edward Island, the county, or a town.
 * Because the churches gave copies of their records to the government for civil registration, search under both thhe "Church records" and "Civil registration" topics.
 * If you find a record that has not yet been digitized, see How do I request that a microfilm be digitized?
 * 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 Canada, Ontario.
 * b. Click on the "Church records" and "Civil registration" topics. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * c. Or, click on Places within Canada, Ontario at the top of the page, and a list of provinces will appear.
 * d. Click on your province.
 * e. Click on the "Church records" and "Civil registration" topics. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * f. Next, click on Places within Canada, Ontario, [COUNTY] and a list of towns will appear.
 * g. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * h. Click on the "Church records" and "Civil registration" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * i. 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.

-

Consult available finding aids.
These aids generally provide lists of records that are known to exist and information on their location.
 * Guide to the holdings of the archives of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario, Anglican Church.

Correspond with or visit the actual churches.
Some records are still held in the local churches. Contact the current minister to find out what records are still available.
 * Make an appointment to look at the records. Or ask the minister of the church to make a copy of the record for you.
 * To find church staff available, you might have to visit on Sunday.
 * Ask for small searches at a time, such as one birth record or a specific marriage. Never ask for "everything on a family or surname".
 * A donation ($25-$40) for their time and effort to help you would be appropriate.
 * If the church has a website, you may be able to e-mail a message.
 * See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.
 * Each denomination page offers an online address directory of local churches for that denomination.

Check the church records collections in archives and libraries.
Some church records have been deposited for preservation in government archives or in libraries. Watch for links to digitized, online records offered by the archives. Some archives provide research services for a fee. For others, if you cannot visit in person, you might hire a researcher.
 * See: Sources for Religious Records in Ontario for complete, up-to-date listings of church records repositories and descriptions of their holdings.

'''Here you will find archive information unique to the province. Many more archives are kept by denomination. For denominational archives, go to  Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Archives of Ontario
The Archives of Ontario 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard Toronto, Ontario, Canada M7A 2C5 Email Address: reference@ontario.ca Fax Number: 416-327-1999 Telephone: Your call will be answered by the third ring, and you will have the option of reaching a person. Your call will not be redirected more than once. All calls will be returned within one working day. 1-800-668-9933 Toll-Free Number (Ontario only) 416-327-1600
 * Services
 * Records of the Registrar General
 * Roman Catholic Marriage Registers - 1828-1870
 * Vital Statistics Files - 1838-1952 (predominant 1858-1869)
 * Registers by Clergy - 1896-1948
 * Sources Of Religious Records In Ontario
 * The Church Records Collection consists of original and copied records for more than 60 Ontario churches which existed at some time in our history. The records within the collection include sessional minutes, annual reports, deeds and financial records, communion rolls, birth/baptismal records, marriage and burial records. Some newspaper clippings are also included. The Archives of Ontario is not responsible for collecting Church records. This responsibility rests with the individual religious denominations in the province.

Toronto Public Library

 * Locations
 * Church records and registers--Ontario.

Niagara Falls Public Library

 * Locations
 * Church Records

Anglican
The Anglican Church in Canada is sometimes called Church of England or Protestant Episcopal Church. The Anglican Church in Ontario maintains a regional archives system. Their "Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario" has no relation to the territorial boundaries of the "political" province of Ontario. For example, Northwestern Ontario is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land, based in Winnipeg.

Diocese of Algoma
Anglican Diocese of Algoma Archives Arthur A. Wishart Library Algoma University 1520 Queen St. East Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4 Canada Phone: 705.949.2101
 * Anglican Diocese of Algoma Archives Policies Covers fees, privacy restrictions, arranging for searches.
 * Alphabetical List of Holdings, lists parish records.
 * Search Request Form
 * Researchers who require verification of a record from a parish register can submit a request for this information. An individual must complete a Search Request Form and forward it to the Diocese of Algoma Synod Office. Search Request Forms are available on the diocesan website. A money order for the search fee payable to Algoma University must accompany the form.


 * Persons interested in doing extensive research for a family or parish history must arrange to visit Algoma University and do the research themselves. If this is not feasible, university student(s) can be hired to do the research. Arrangements for this can be made through the University Archivist. The person making the request for the research will be responsible for paying the costs of hiring the student.

It comprises the Ontario districts of Algoma, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Manitoulin, and parts of the districts of Nipissing and Timiskaming. The diocese forms a wide band stretching from just west of Thunder Bay on the northern shore of Lake Superior east to the border of Ontario and Quebec.

Diocese of Huron
The Verschoyle Phillip Cronyn Memorial Archives The Anglican Diocese of Huron Huron University College 1349 Western Road London, ON N6G 1H3 Canada Phone: 519-645-7956 The Archives page (Click on "Huron Archives", then on "The Verschoyle Phillip Cronyn Memorial Archives") gives the following information: Contact information, fee schedules, Privacy Act information, and the research policies of the Anglican Church.
 * Search the catalogue

Records for parishes in the counties of Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, Waterloo, Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford, Brant, Essex, Kent, Elgin, and Norfolk

Ministry of Mishamakweesh, Indigenous Spiritual (formerly Diocese of Keewatin) Archives
Housed at the General Synod Archives 80 Hayden Street Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2 Phone: 416-924-9199  x279 E-mail: archives@national.anglican.ca

Diocese of Moosonee
Anglican Diocese of Moosonee Archives J.N. Desmarais Library First Floor 935 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6 Canada Telephone: 705.675.1151 ext. 3306 E-mail:archives@laurentian.ca
 * Search Request Form
 * Access Policy
 * There are 69 parishes in the Diocese of Moosonee for which we have records. They mainly consist of documents that were produced, received, and accumulated by the parishes. Due to the fragile state of preservation of the parish registers and the nature of the information, these are not accessible to researchers. The archives' employees will do the search for any request of baptism, marriage and burial records.


 * Archives staff will provide assistance with research services; however, we are unable to commit to more than two hours of our time for such research. As an alternative, we can provide you with names of freelance researchers who, for an hourly fee, can do the research for you. Although we can provide you with names of researchers, it is your responsibility to negotiate the agreement with him or her. The LU archives is not responsible for the research done by these researchers.

Diocese of Niagara
Anglican Diocese of Niagara Archives Mills Memorial Library, Lower Level McMaster University 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4L6 Phone: (905)905-527-1316 x200
 * Search Request Form Please note there is a $35 search fee.

Records related to the Counties of Wellington, Halton, Wentworth, Haldimand, Lincoln, and Welland. --

Diocese of Ontario
Anglican Diocese of Ontario Archives 90 Johnson St. Kingston, ON K7L 1X7 Canada Phone: 613-544-4774
 * Services and Fees
 * Contact Information
 * The Anglican Diocese of Ontario Archives (ADOA) has extensive holdings of records from the Anglican parishes of this diocese, including parish registers of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials as well as vestry minutes, accounts, land documents, sentences of consecrations, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and more. Please feel free to book an appointment with the ADOA staff in order to do the research on site, or the staff may be hired to do the research for you. See “Services and Fees” section.

Records for parishes in the counties of Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville.

Diocese of Ottawa
Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives 71 Bronson Ave. Ottawa, ON K1R 6G6 Canada Phone: 613-232-7124 Ext 234
 * ARCHEION: The Diocese of Ottawa has some 222 churches and parishes listed at the Archeion website of the Archives Association of Ontario. Find out about the extent and variety of records in the Diocesan Archives for any parish and congregation by browsing the Archeion database.
 * The Archives page includes information on record types, hours for research, acquisition policy, and fee schedule.

Records related to the Counties of Renfrew, Lanark, Carleton, Russell, Prescott, Dundas, Stormont, Glengarry, and the District of Nipissing east of North Bay. Fees are charged for certified copies, reproductions, and genealogical research. Photocopying of Parish Registers is not permitted.

Diocese of Keewatin
The Diocese of Keewatin was formed in 1902. It ceased to exist as of July 31, 2014 after the creation of the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh. The territory of the diocese included north western Ontario and Eastern Manitoba. Some parishes in the southern Ontario region were transferred to the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. The Diocese of Keewatin fonds. — 1846-2014 (50 m textual records and other material) are stored dat the General Synod Archives. The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada 80 Hayden Street Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2 Canada Phone: (416) 924-9192
 * Search Our Collections
 * Diocese of Keewatin Fonds

Diocese of Rupert's Land
The Diocese of Keewatin was a diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada. As of 1 August 2014, it no longer had any territorial jurisdiction, but it continued to exist as a legal entity until 30 September 2015, when it was formally closed. The southern parishes in the diocese were transferred to the Diocese of Rupert's Land on 1 August 2014.

Diocese of Rupert's Land Archives 935 Nesbitt Bay Winnipeg, MB R3T 1W6 Canada Telephone: 204-992-4203 Toll free in Manitoba: 1-866-693-4418 E-mail: archives@rupertsland.ca Fax: 204-992-4219
 * Request for Information From Parish Registers Fees required listed in form. Fees may be paid in cash, by cheque or credit card (Visa or Mastercard). Please make cheques payable to The Diocese of Rupert’s Land.nPayment must be received before search begins and is non-refundable.

Diocese of Toronto
Anglican Diocese of Toronto Archives 135 Adelaide Street East Toronto, ON M5C 1L8 Canada Phone: 416-363-6021 or 1-800-668-8932 Records for parishes in the counties of Simcoe, Peel, York, Ontario, Victoria, Durham, Haliburton, Peterborough, Northumberland, and the east third of Dufferin.
 * Genealogy
 * Information for Researchers

Baptist
The Canadian Baptist Archives McMaster Divinity College 1280 :Main Street West Room 152 Hamilton, ON   L8S 4K1 : CANADA Fax:  905-577-4782 Phone: (905) 525-9140 :x23511 or x23512
 * Several hundred Baptist congregations have deposited their original records in the Archives, which also contains the official records of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, Union d’Eglises Baptist Francaises au Canada, and other organizations.
 * Genealogical Research Policy (1 August 2020): Genealogical researchers have found the Canadian Baptist Archives (CBA) to be of assistance in accessing important information about family members. Genealogical researchers are always welcome to come and use the archives in person at no cost. Before researchers arrive at the archives, the archivist can provide upon request a list of material that may be relevant to their research. All other information relating to fees and services can be found on the Fees Information web page. Starting September 1, 2011, due to our limited hours of operation, the CBA will no longer perform genealogical research for patrons. Patrons that cannot come to the archives in person will need to hire a professional researcher to do this work for them.

Catholic

 * 1747-1967 Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 ($)
 * The Drouin Collection, which includes records from 1621-1967, is available online as five separate databases. This French-Canadian collection, written mainly in French, has over 15 million genealogical and vital records. The types of records include baptisms, marriages, and burials as well as confirmations, dispensations, censuses, statements of readmission to the church. For more details see the Wiki article: The Drouin Collection: Six Databases.


 * 1760-1923, images. For list of parishes covered, see
 * Most pre-1910 records of Catholic parishes in Ontario have been microfilmed and digitized and are available through the FamilySearch Collection. The microfilming was done so that priests in the local churches did not have to deal with genealogical inquiries.
 * Exceptions are listed below:


 * Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall(Stormont and Glengarry Counties) 220 Chemin Montreal P.O. Box 1388 Cornwall, ON K6H 5V4 CANADA Phone: (613) 933-1138
 * Records are held by each local parish: Find A Parish


 * Catholic Diocese of Hamilton Archives 700 King Street West Hamilton, ON L8P 1C7 CANADA Phone: [905] 528-7988
 * Requesting Sacramental Records
 * Records are held by each local parish: Find A Parish

Lutheran
Wilfrid Laurier University Archives and Special Collections 75 University Avenue West Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 Canada Phone:519.884.0710 x3906 E-mail:libarch@wlu.ca
 * Catalog
 * The Archives holds the records of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (and predecessors) and also the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (and predecessors). Holdings include the records of hundreds of Lutheran congregations across Canada.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary 470 Glenridge Avenue St. Catharines, Ontario L2T 4C3 Canada Telephone: (905) 688-2362 The East District archives is located here, and the archivist has been able to secure East District churches’ archives which had been housed in the United States and move them here.

Mennonite
Mennonite Archives of Ontario Conrad Grebel College Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G6 Canada Phone:519-885-0220
 * Congregational Records
 * Genealogical Manuscripts
 * Search Engine

Essex-Kent Mennonite Historical Association 31 Pickwick Drive Leamington, Ontario N8H 4T5 Canada Phone: 519-322-0456

Moravian
The Moravian Archives: 41 West Locust Street Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018 United States :of America Phone: (610) 866-3255
 * Moravian Missions Among American Indians Finding Aid.
 * For a map and list of missions visit Early Moravian Missions in Eastern Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas 1740-1773.

Books

 * Records of the Moravian Mission among the Indians of North America
 * Index to the records of the Moravian Mission among the Indians of North America

Metis Nation

 * http://www.metisnation.org/book-home/chapter-5-vital-records-and-alternate-sources/church-records/ Researching Your Metis Ancestors in Ontario: Standards and Sources] Metis Nation in Ontario

Presbyterian
Once the largest Christian denomination in English-speaking Canada, in 1925 some 70 per cent of its congregations joined with the Methodist Church, Canada and the Congregationalist Union to form the United Church of Canada.
 * A few pre-1925 Presbyterian records are available through the Presbyterian Church in Canada:
 * Church in Canada Archives '''50 Wynford& Drive Toronto, ON M3C 1J7 Canada 416-441-1111 ext. 310


 * Most Presbyterian records are at archives of the United Church of Canada.
 * United Church of Canada Archives 40 Oak Street Toronto, ON M5A 2C6 Canada Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 1101 Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 1101 Fax: 416-231-3103 attn: Archives E-mail:  archives@united-church.ca

Quakers (Society of Friends)
Canadian Quaker Archives and Library Canadian Yearly Meeting Archives Pickering College 16945 Bayview Avenue Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 4X2, Canada Phone: 905-895-1700 x. 247 Fax: 905-895-9076 Email: cym-archivist@quaker.ca
 * Collection Holdings
 * The Canadian Quaker Genealogical Index
 * Online Transcriptions of Meeting Minutes
 * Index to Microfilmed Meeting Records
 * Digital Quaker Collection
 * The Canadian Quaker Archives welcomes inquiries from researchers and genealogists. The part-time Archivist will answer as soon as possible. Visits are also welcome by appointment.

Quaker Archives 91A Fourth Ave Ottawa, ON K1S 2L1, CANADA Tel: 613-235-8553 Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-296-3222 Fax: 613-235-1753
 * The Collection

United Church of Canada
United Church records include Methodist, most Presbyterian, and Congregational church records dating from before the 1925 merger which formed the church. Many records are still in the hands of local clergymen. Others are at: United Church of Canada Archives 40 Oak Street Toronto, ON M5A 2C6 Canada Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 1101 Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 1101 Fax: 416-231-3103 attn: Archives E-mail: archives@united-church.ca

Go to the Wiki article for your ancestors' denomination to find more archives.
There are frequently additional, nationwide or regional archives for each denomination. Find the article for your ancestors' denomination and follow the instructions there to access these sources. This is especially important if local archives are not given above.

Correspond with genealogical or historical societies.
Some church records have been given to historical societies. Also, historical societies may be able to tell you where the records are being held. To find a society near you, consult these lists:
 * Society Hill List of Canada Societies

Carefully compare any record you find to known facts about the ancestor
You will possibly find many different people with the same name as your ancestor, especially when a family stayed in a locality for several generations, and several children were named after the grandparents or aunts and uncles. Be prepared to find the correct church records by organizing in advance as many of these exact details about the ancestor as possible:
 * name, including middle name and maiden name
 * names of all spouses, including middle and maiden name
 * exact or closely estimated dates of birth, marriage, and death
 * names and approximate birthdates of children
 * all known places of residence
 * occupations
 * military service details

Carefully evaluate the church records you find to make sure you have really found records for your ancestor and not just a "near match". If one or more of the details do not line up, be careful about accepting the entry as your ancestor. There are guiding principles for deciding how to resolve discrepancies between records that are seemingly close. For more instruction in evaluating evidence, read the Wiki article, Evaluate the Evidence.