Grenada Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Grenada, 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 FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * 1590-1928, index; Also at American Ancestors ($), MyHeritage ($)
 * 1591-1905, index.
 * 1747-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1765 French Marriage Register (1765)
 * 1765 St George Register of Baptisms, marriages and burials (1765)
 * 1765-1785 St George Register of Baptisms, marriages and burials (1765 - 1785)
 * 1779-1782 Gouvaye Register of Baptisms, marriages and burials (1779 - 1782)
 * 1780-1782 Gouvaye Register of Baptisms of Slaves (1780 - 1782)
 * 1782 St Jacques Register of Baptisms, marriages and burials (1782)
 * 1782 St Jacques Register of Baptisms, marriages and burials (1782) cont.
 * 1790-1906, index.
 * 1866-1891 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index; Also at Ancestry.com ($) and MyHeritage ($)


 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Grenada, index and images, ($)


 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index and images, ($)

National Archives of Grenada

 * Grenada Records: Births, marriages and deaths

Historical Background
The major religions of Grenada are the Catholic Church and Anglican Church. The Presbyterian Church is also prominent.

The island of Grenada was first colonized by the French in 1674. Historically the religious makeup of the islands of Grenada covers the period from first European occupation in the 17th century. This has always been predominantly Christian and largely Roman Catholic (due to the first occupants being French) and from the 1891 census we get a snapshot of the population and its religious proclivities - over half were Roman Catholic (55%), a third were Church of England (36%), others listed were Wesleyan (6%) and Presbyterian (0.88%).

Roughly one half of Christians are Roman Catholics (44.6% of the total population), a reflection of early French influence on the island, and one half are Protestant. Anglicanism constitutes the largest Protestant group, with 11.5% of the population. Pentecostals are the second largest group (11.3%), followed by Seventh-day Adventists (10.5% of the population). Other Christians include Baptists (2.9%), Church of God (2.6%), Methodists (1.8%), Evangelicals (1.6%) Jehovah's Witnesses (1.1%), and Brethren Christian (0.5%).

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 Grenada.
 * b. Click on Places within Grenada 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 for help with composing letters.
 * Grenada Church Directories.
 * Maps.me Church Listings dor Grenada
 * Yellow Pages for Churches in Grenada

Finding the Records
Many digitized Anglican records are available through Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog.

Writing for Records
For more recent records, you will need to write to the local parish:


 * Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Grenada
 * Yellow Pages for Churches in Grenada Under "Anglican Church", click on "View 19 Other Liocations".

Historical Background
The Protestants Anglican Church was the state church or Established Church in Grenada from 1763 (once the island was formally ceded to Britain through the Treaty of Paris) Then in October 1800 all Catholic Churches were appropriated by the Protestants for the use as Anglican Churches. It was on 29 June 1830 that the foundation stone of the St. Patrick’s Anglican Church was laid as the first and oldest Anglican Church constructed in the parish. It was one of four churches started that year, including Anglican churches in St. Andrew and St. David.

Each parish in Grenada kept its own records of christenings, marriages, and burials. These were included under the combined parishes of St. Andrew/St. Patrick/St. David (1807–1825) and St. Patrick/St. David (after 1825), and later under its own; records date to 1807.

It was late in 1865 that a Law, formalizing the keeping of complete Registers of Births, Deaths, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials of all the people on the Island were ensured.

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: Grenada

Historical Background
The first church in Grenada was French Roman Catholic and about 1718 the Notre Dame du Bon Secours Catholic Church. A tiny number of Irish Roman Catholic remained on the island as part of the Irish Brigade military contingent under Count Arthur Dillon and his brother Edward in 1779. At least seven early Roman Catholic parish registers (nearly 340 pages) have survived and have been digitized but not yet indexed. After 1864 RC parish records would have to have been formally kept.

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
Although some Church members lived in Grenada while attending medical school, little permanent missionary work started until after the 1983 coup and subsequent invasion of Grenada by United States and United Nations forces. Under the direction of President Kenneth L. Zabriskie of the West Indies Mission, Elders Robert W. Hoffmaster and Leonard C. Gill arrived in Grenada in May 1985. They met with a medical student and their children. A branch (a small congregation) was established in St. George on 3 September 1985. Grenada is part of the Barbados Bridgetown Mission. Total Church Membership: 420.

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Grenada

Historical Background
A Methodist society began in Grenada in 1820 when its first church was built in the parish town of St. George’s.

Methodist records consist mainly of baptism and marriage records. Baptism records show the child’s name, parents, and birth date and place. Marriage records show the names of the bride and groom, and the marriage date and place. Occasionally a circuit minute book or vestry book was kept. Since there were few Methodist cemeteries, death or burial records are rare. Methodists were usually buried in Anglican Church cemeteries, and their burial records kept in Anglican Church registers.

Writing for Records
Minister: Rev. Dr. R. Osbert James - (473) 449-8031[Cell] The Office: Knox House, Grand Etang Road, St. George's: (473) 440-2436 Email: info@presbyterianchurchgrenada.com, thepresbyterianchurch.gnd@gmail.com Churches, Website

Historical Background
Although Scottish Presbyterians began a massive migration in 1605, they did not arrive in Grenada until 1830 when St. Andrew's Presbyterian (also known as Scots’ Kirk) in St. George’s was built. Many of the Presbyterian settlers to Grenada, usually Plantation settlers, came also from England, Ireland and from Wales. By 1880 their progress grew in both Belair and St. Patrick’s and by 1883, Reverend James Muir from Scotland, arrived in Grenada and began assisting some twelve hundred Indians on the Island.

Congregations were organized but very few kept early records. All congregations would have had to start keeping records after 1864.

Other Churches
Many other denominations have established churches or congregations in Grenada. In the mid-1700s Congregationalists and Baptists first came to Grenada as soldiers under Cromwell. Huguenots, seeking religious freedom, also came in the 1700s. Most Huguenots affiliated themselves with the Anglican Church or with the Presbyterian Church. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established branches in Grenada by 1950.

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Grenada
 * Google Maps search results for Church of God churches in Grenada
 * Google Maps search results for Evangelical churches in Grenada
 * Google Maps search results for Jehovah's Witnesses in Grenada
 * Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Grenada
 * Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Grenada

Locating Church Records
Church records are in local custody. Many church records have also been filmed or photocopied and the originals or copies stored in repositories. To see if the church records you need are available at the FamilySearch Library, check the library catalog. Although much work went into the following charts, they may not be current past 2016. Be sure to double check the actual catalog.