Rhineland (Rheinland), German Empire Church Records

Church records (parish registers, church books) are an important source for genealogical research in Germany before civil registration began. They recorded details of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The vast majority of the population was mentioned. To learn more about the types of information you will find in church records, click on these links: For a comprehensive understanding of church records, study the article Germany Church Records.
 * Baptisms (Taufen)
 * Marriages (Heiraten)
 * Burials (Begräbnisse)
 * Confirmations (Konfirmationen)
 * Family Registers (Familienbücher)

1. Online Church Records

 * Archion: Archive of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland
 * Archion: Central Archives of the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate
 * 1704-1957 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1600-1925 - at FamilySearch Historical Records, free, browsable images, incomplete.
 * 1600-1925 - at FamilySearch Historical Records, free, browsable images, incomplete.
 * 1704-1957 - at FamilySearch — index

2. Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog
Try to find records in the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Many microfilms have been digitized for online viewing. Gradually, everything will be digitized, so check back occasionally. Some 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 this link to records of Germany, Preussen, Rheinland.
 * b. Click on Places within Germany, Preussen, Rheinland 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. Choose the correct record type and time period for your ancestor. "Geburten" are births. "Taufen" are christenings/baptisms. "Heiraten" are marriages.  "Tote" are deaths.
 * f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm 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 microfilm.

3. Research in Church and State Archives
Church records or duplicates may have been gathered from the local parishes into central archives, either by the churches or the state. Older records are frequently given to these archives for safekeeping. Some gaps in the church records of local parishes could be filled using these records. Archives might be unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can determine whether they have specific records you need, sometimes perform very brief research, such as just one record, or they may recommend a researcher who can search the records for you.

E-mail

 * You can e-mail archives and ask whether they have records for a parish. Also, you should inquire whether they provide research services and what their fees are. You can communicate with the archives in English.

Catholic Archives:
Episcopal Diocesan Archive Aachen Jakobstr. 42 D-52064 Aachen Germany

Mailing address: PO Box 10 03 11 D-52003 Aachen Germany

Phone:	0241 452 - 268 Fax: 0241 452 - 828 E-mail:	archiv@bistum-aachen.de
 * Website

Historical Archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne Gereonstr. 2-4 50670 Cologne Germany

Phone:	0221 - 1642 5800 Fax:0221 - 1642 5803 E-mail:	archiv@erzbistum-koeln.de br>
 * Website

Diocesan Archives Limburg Weilburger Straße 16 65549 Limburg Germany PO Box 1355, 65533 Limburg Phone: 06431 - 295-846 06431 - 295-849 (genealogy) Fax: 06431 - 295 892 E-mail:	archiv@bistumlimburg.de
 * 

Bistumsarchiv Trier Jesuitenstraße 13c, 54290 Trier Germany Phone:	0651 - 96627 0 E-mail:	Bistumsarchiv@bgv-trier.de
 * Website
 * List of holdings

Bistumsarchiv Speyer Small Pfaffengasse 16 67346 Speyer Germany Phone:06232 - 102 256 Fax:	06232 - 102 477 E-mail:Bistumsarchiv@bistum-speyer.de
 * Website
 * List of holdings

Lutheran Archives
Evangelical Church in the Rhineland  Landeskirchliches Archive Hans-Böckler-Strasse 7 40476 Düsseldorf Germany Tel .: 0211-4562-225 E-Mail: archiv@ekir-lka.de '''Central Archives of Ev. Church of the Palatinate (Speyer)''' Domplatz 6 67346 Speyer Germany Postal address: Postfach 1720 67343 Speyer Germany Phone: 06232-667180 E-Mail: centralarchiv@evkirchepfalz.de
 * Website
 * List of holdings in the Duisberger archives
 * List of holdings of garrison parishes
 * Website
 * Holdings by Kirchengemeinden
 * '''Holdings by Kirchenbücher

Archive of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, St. Martin / Boppard  Mainzerstrasse 8 D-56154 Boppard Germany Tel. (06742) 8 61 94
 * List of holdings in the Boppard archives