South Africa, Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Suid-Afrika, Gereformeerde Kerk Rekords

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1856 to 1988.

These records include images of christenings, marriages, membership records, and some indexes for several parishes in South Africa and surrounding countries.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browselink from the collection landing page.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
These baptism records usually contain the following information:


 * Name of child
 * Date and place of baptism
 * Child's birth date
 * Names of parents, including maiden name of mother
 * Name of person performing baptism

These marriage records usually contain the following information:


 * Date and place of marriage
 * Race of both husband and wife
 * Name and age of groom
 * Groom's country of birth
 * Groom's occupation and residence
 * Name and age of bride
 * Bride's country of birth
 * Bride's occupation and residence
 * Marriage by license or banns
 * Consent or order for marriage given by whom
 * Names of witnesses
 * Name of officiant at ceremony

How to Use the Record
To begin your search in this collection, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Approximate year of baptism and marriage
 * Ancestor's Religion

Searching the Collection
To search the collection image by image select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page: ⇒Select the appropriate "Country" ⇒Select the appropriate "Province" ⇒Select the appropriate "Municipality or Town" ⇒Select the appropriate "Record Type and Years" which will take you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Related Websites

 * National Archives and Records Service for South Africa
 * South African Records

Related Wiki Articles

 * South Africa Websites

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“South Africa, Reformed Church Records, 1879-1907,” digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 20 April 2012), Angola &gt; Angola &gt; Humpata &gt; marriages 1879-1907 &gt; image 1 of 48, Stefanus Jakobus Oosthenzen and Johanna Aleta Vande Merme, 1879; citing South Africa, Gereformeerde Kerk Argief, Church Records, Reformed Church Archives, Potchefstroom.