Iowa, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records from 1839-2004. The records are from different denominations located in several counties in Iowa. Some of the churches represented include:
 * United Methodist Church (Grundy Center)
 * United Presbyterian Church (Washington)
 * St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Lacona)
 * Bethany Lutheran Church (Laurens)
 * First Presbyterian Church (Pocahontas)
 * St. John's United Church of Christ (Newell)

What Can these Records Tell Me?
Church records may include:
 * The names of individiduals
 * Dates for significant events, such as birth, marriage, death, and burial
 * The names of parents
 * The names of relatives, who served as witnesses.
 * The names of clergy

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The approximate date and or location of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Search for other vital records in the county or state, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Search for the family in federal and state census records
 * Search local newspapers for information the family

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used. "Iowa, Church Records, 1839-2004." Index. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2020. Citing.
 * Collection Citation: