Suriname Church Records

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

=Online Resources and Websites=
 * Dutch Reformed Church 1688-1792, in Dutch, transcribed index. Download the Zip file and unzip it. This is a .pdf index.
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Suriname, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Suriname, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index and images, ($)

=Historical Background= The history of Christianity in Suriname can be divided into two parts. The first part is the history up to the abolition of slavery. The second part consists of Christianity after the era of slavery....

In the first pace, we have the division according to the arrival of churches: the older churches and the new churches. The older churches (Anglican, Reformed, Moravian, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic)settled in the Surinamese society during the era of slavery. This period roughly covered 1651-1863.

The second phase started after the abolition of slavery and the arrival of the new churches. The first Baptist church was founded around 1887. The Baptists were followed by the Seventh-day Adventists (1894), and the Methodist Churches (African Episcopal Methodist Church 1912); Salvation Army, 1924; Wesleyan Church, 1945; and Evangelical Methodist Church, 1949.

Anew group of churches in this group consisted of different American Baptist Churches (Worldteam 1954), Pentecostal and Full Gospel Churches (Assemblies of God 1959), and many others starting from 1961 (e.g. Southern Baptists, 1971; Christian and Missionary Alliance, 1979).

=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 Suriname.
 * b. Click on Places within Suriname 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 Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

= 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: Suriname

Historical Background
The Catholic Church in Suriname is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, and is under the spiritual leadership of the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis.

There are 117,261 Catholics in Suriname, 21.6% of the population, far lower than most of South America.[1] The Church in Suriname consists of only one diocese, the Diocese of Paramaribo. There are 22 priests in the Diocese, with a ratio of about 5,030 Catholics per priest. There are 31 Catholic parishes in the diocese. The seat of the Diocese of Paramaribo is The Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Paramaribo.

The first missionaries to come to Suriname were the Franciscans in 1683, but the harshness of the climate did not favor the arrival of other priests, so that up to 1786 the country was totally abandoned by the Catholic missions. Since 1786 some secular priests opened a missionary center, but soon had to flee to the opposition of the ministers of other Christian denominations. When in 1816 the territory passed into the hands of the Dutch, was guaranteed freedom of worship. This was the real starting point of Catholic evangelization of what today is called Suriname. In 1817 was erected the Apostolic Prefecture of Dutch Guyana, which became apostolic vicariate in 1842 and the mission was entrusted in a special way to the Redemptorists. On 7 May 1958 the apostolic vicariate was elevated to the rank of diocese, then Diocese of Paramaribo.

=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: 1,630. Congregations: 5.

Former Netherlands Amsterdam Mission President John Limburg and his wife, Beverly, were called to begin missionary work in Suriname. The Limburgs arrived in Paramaribo in October 1988. Membership had increased in Paramaribo so that in November 1989 a branch (a small congregation) was formally organized. By 1990, attendance at the branch averaged about 100 people.

In 2001, there were 495 members in Suriname. The Paramaribo chapel was dedicated in July 2001 and, due to membership growth, the Paramaribo Branch was divided in September 2002 to form the Wanica Branch.

=Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Anglican Diocese in Guyana and Suriname Facebook
 * Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Suriname

Historical Background
The Anglican Diocese of Guyana is one of eight within the Province of the West Indies.[1] Its cathedral is St. George's Cathedral, Georgetown. The diocese came into being on 24 August 1842, when William Austin was consecrated as the first bishop. The diocese also covers Suriname and Cayenne/French Guiana.

=Baptist Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Suriname

=Dutch Reformed Church Records=

Online Resources and Websites

 * Dutch Reformed Church 1688-1792, in Dutch, transcribed index. Download the Zip file and unzip it. This is a .pdf index.

Writing for Records

 * Directory

Historical Background
The Dutch Reformed Church of Surinam was founded in 1667 - 1668 by Rev Basselieres. It was a church of Dutch colonists. Now members are white settlers and ransomed slaves. Most church activities were in Paramaribo. Until 1850 the church was the State Church. The church opened itself to the African slaves. The church has 15,000-12,000 members and 3 congregations and 5 house fellowships.

=Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records=

Writing for Records

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

Historical Background
=Lutheran Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Lutheran churches in Suriname

Historical Background
=Methodist Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Suriname
 * Google Maps search results for Wesleyan churches in Suriname

Historical Background
=Moravian Church Records=

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Suriname

Historical Background
The mission in Suriname started from Hernnhut (Germany) in 1735 and was continued after 1928 from Zeist in the Netherlands. Mission among the American Indians began in 1748 and continued later among the (African) slaves and the bush negroes (fugitive slaves). After 1835 several congregations were established in various parts of the country. Mission among the East Indians (Hindustanis) began in 1873 and among the Javanese in 1909. As several members of the Moravian Church in Suriname emigrated to the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands, especially after the second world war, the church in Suriname is also working in the Netherlands Antilles. In 1963 the church became an autonomous province of the Moravian Church, with its own synod meeting every three years. The provincial elders conference, the governing body of the community, is assisted by two other boards, one for church affairs and the other for mission affairs.

=Pentecostal Church Records=

Writing for Records
=Salvation Army Church Records=
 * Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Suriname
 * Google Maps search results for Assembly of God churches in Suriname

Writing for Records
=Seventh-day Adventist Church Records=
 * Google Maps search results for Salvation Army churches in Suriname

Writing for Records

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

Historical Background
=References=