Curaçao Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Curaçao, 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 Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * Rooms Katholieke Kerk. Curaçao, Doopboek van slavenkinderen, 1831-1842, images. Roman Catholic baptisms.
 * Nederlands Hervormde Kerk. Curaçao, Kerkelijke registers, 1714-1822, images.	Registers of the Dutch Reformed Church; baptisms, marriages and burials.
 * Lutherse Kerk. Curaçao, Kerkelijke registers, 1757-1831, images. Lutheran parish registers; baptisms and burials.
 * Rooms Katholieke Kerk. Dominicanenvicariaat (Curaçao), Kerkelijke registers, 1905-1962, images. Roman Catholic family records and deaths for the Dominican Vicarage, Curaçao

Historical Background
The religious breakdown of the population of Curaçao, according to a 2011 estimate:[90]


 * Roman Catholic; 72.8%
 * Pentecostal; 6.6%
 * Other Protestant; 3.2%
 * Adventist; 3%
 * Jehovah's Witnesses; 2%
 * Evangelical; 1.9%

This includes a shift towards the charismatic renewal or charismatic movement since the mid-1970s. Other denominations include the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Methodist Church.

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 Curaçao.
 * b. Click on Places within Curaçao 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 or Spanish Letter Writing Guide for help with composing letters.

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: Curaçao

Historical Background
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Willemstad encompasses all the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean which includes Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The diocese is also a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.

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
Missionary work was opened and closed on Curacao in 1978 by the Venezuela Caracas Mission. The Curacao Branch (a small congregation) was created in October 1979. Though missionaries had visited for a couple weeks at a time since 1972, it was not until mission president Wesley W. Craig, Jr. sent missionaries in 1982 and decided that meetings should be conducted in the local language of Papiamento that the Church began to progress among natives. A chapel was dedicated in August 1988. Total Church Membership: 553.

Churches to be found on Curaçao

 * '''Google Maps search results for churches in Curaçao

Also,

Antianio Baptist Church Oost Jongbloed 61 Tel: 378262

Christian Heritage Ministeries P.O. Box 378 Albert Sweitzer School Tel: 371860

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Schout bij Nacht Doormansweg 57 Tel: 372686 Ebenezer Protestant Church Oranjestraat 111 Tel: 653121

El Bethel Evangelical Alliance Church Doormansweg 32

Jehovah's Witnesses P.O Box 4708 Oosterbeekstraat 11 Tel: 617528 &amp; 657737

Methodists Church A. de Veerstraat Tel: 375834

Santa Famia Roman Catholics Church Mgr. Niewindtstraat 23 Tel: 625627

Seventh Days Adventists Church Barbadosweg 10 Tel: 687590

Puttenstraat 2 Tel: 615167

Laufferstraat Tel: 623286