California, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records from various denominations in California, for the years 1864 to 1985, including:
 * St. Clement's Episcopal Church (Berkeley, California)
 * The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (El Monte, Los Angeles County)

The record content and time period varies by denomination and locality.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
A birth record may contain: A baptism record may contain: A marriage record may contain: A death record may contain:
 * The name of the child
 * The date of birth
 * The names of parents
 * The name of the person
 * The date of birth
 * The date of baptism
 * The names of parents
 * Residence
 * The names of the bride and groom
 * The date of Marriage
 * Birthplaces and residences of bride and groom
 * Ages of bride and groom
 * Occupation of groom
 * The name of the deceased
 * The name of the spouse
 * The death date

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * 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 the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records such as birth,marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the church record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Use the information found in the church record to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for land probate records

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

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. "California, Church Records, 1864-1985." Index. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2020.
 * Collection Citation: