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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Northumberland => England => Northumberland Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Subaru on Saturday 31 October 09 21:58 GMT (UK)
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Does anybody live anywhere St Michael's who would be able to do a look-up for a baptism please?
It's a strange case, I've written over the years half a dozen times, and offered to pay for the certificates of my mam and uncle.
The priest who is there has actually phoned me twice about it, once we had a conversation for half an hour. But each time I write, or speak to him by phone, the certificates don't materialise.
I don't know why, maybe there aren't any certificates, and my mam was led to believe they were baptised. I know that her parents didn't marry because her dad was already married. It's a long story.
But if somebody could even look at the book for me and confirm if the baptisms are there, that would be great
Rosemary
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Hi Rosemary
I've been looking on genuki to see where the records are kept but they don't list a St. Michaels in Elswick.
Also you don't say what dates you are looking for.
Christine
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Sorry, spotted it now :-[
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Rosemary,
Is the church in question, St Michael's of Byker ( started in 1860s) ?
Helpers don't need to live near the actual church. Film of records of most churches in the area are in archives, libraries etc. e.g. Tyne & wear Archives !
Michael
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I thought I would see if anybody was able to actually access the baptism records before I went into detail.
The years are 1923 and 1928.
Rosemary
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Yes, Rosemary, but getting the right church is important also.
The records of St Michael's Byker, Newcastle are accessible in the Tyne and Wear Archives, in Newcastle. In their catalogue the do not list a St Michael's of Elswick !
Michael
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It's the one on Westmorland Road Michael.
I've actually sat outside the church with my mam a couple of years ago, but it was closed at the time. If I had known how hard it was going to be to access the records, I would have gone and knocked at the priest's house behind it. We didn't have time to stop that day.
Rosemary
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Well Rosemary, I have made progress - and am on the same hymn sheet as you....I have identified the church Roman Catholic St Michael's.
And in within the next week I will check with Tyne & Wear Archives to ascertain if they hold baptism records of the church.
(User Guide No.12 of the Archives is on line www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk
The guide lists the Roman Catholic records held, but does not list St Michael's)
There was a time not so long ago when there was a handful of RC churches in Tyneside which had not given up their records for copying, on instructions from Bishop Ambrose. But I thought all had complied by now.
As you might guess from my profile, I frequently do Roman Catholic research re my mother's Gallagher family, Sligo to Northumberland and Durham.
Internet tells me Father Bellamy is on Tel 0191-273-3582.
Michael
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Hi Michael
I've actually spoken to Father Bellamy two or three times. Each time he receives a letter from me, giving lots of dates and information, he has called and promised that he would look for me when he has time, and send them on. As I said, I offered to send payment first, but he declined it. He knew my uncle, who died a couple of months ago, and was very helpful on the phone.
I can only think that he has looked, and found nothing, thinking it might offend my family, being catholic. But it wouldn't bother me at all, I've found worse skeletons in the family closet than that.
Thanks for the offer of research Michael. There is a catholic church in the town where I live who haven't yet complied concerning their old registers. It is so hard to get information from them, and only certain people are allowed access to the books. I can't see the problem, once they are photographed and recorded, they wouldn't be bothered again by researchers would they?
Anyway good luck :)
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Rosemary, That is exactly why Bishop Ambrose of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese ( no longer with us) asked all his parish priests to offer up their records to T & W Archs for copying... to save themselves some time and facilitate our research of Catholic records.
Michael
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Rosemary,
Today I have confirmed with Tyne & Wear Archives, that they do not hold any church records for St Michael's RC of Elswick. They added that the precedure of churches offering up their records to be copied, was voluntary.
So I think that leaves you with direct contact with the church/priest , as the only way to find "events" of that church.
Michael
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I may be able to find whatever you need to find in St Micheals , my Grandmother has access to many books that are held beneath the church.
What are you looking for??
David
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You're an angel David :)
I'll pm you with the details, I don't want to give my mam's details on the open thread.
Rosemary
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Hello David,
I was browsing through Roots Chat and I found these entries regarding St Michael's RC Church. I have had exactly the same problem as Rosemary, I contacted Father Bellamy with a SAE and also twice by phone but with no luck. I have hit a brick wall with my research into my Dad's family and was really hoping St Michael's records might hold a clue for me. Would it be very rude of me to ask if your Grandmother could possibly help me out I would be so grateful!!
Eileen
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My Grandmother is still looking for Rosemary's records and I will contact her very shortly as it has been busy over the christmas.
If you can contact me with what you want to find out in about a week.
Sorry for the delays ;)
Take care David
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That is very kind but please there is no rush! If I get in touch in about a week and it's not convienient please let me know and I will leave it longer.
Thanks again
Eileen
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Don't worry David, I've waited years already, it won't make much difference time-wise :)
I'm only grateful that there might be some success at the end this time.
Hope you had a good xmas, and I look forward to visiting the church with my mam very soon.
Regards
Rosemary
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Hi David,
I was in touch with you before Xmas about St Michael's Church. I was wondering if this would be a good time to give you details of my enquiry or this still going to be difficult for you?
Thanks Eileen
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Hi Sabaru
St Michael's R.C. Parish Church Elswick, their Parish Records are in Tyne and Wear Archives as St Michael's was my mothers families parish. I went to St Michael's about eight years ago now to view the parish registers. Fr. Bellamy is an old man who has been a priest here since about 1965. I too phoned several times & eventually I made arrangements with him to visit. When I got there he had brought all the registers into the dinning room & had placed them on the table for me. If I remember rightly there was only two marriage registers, one full and the other still in use. The Bishop very much wanted them to go into T&W Archives & eventually the full registers were handed in. I have viewed the registers in T & W Archives on microfilm. I didn't realise that Fr. Bellamy was still at St Michael's. If I can be of any help as I'm due another visit to T & W Archives please let me know.
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Hi
After a gap of searching, I'm still hoping to find information from St Michael's church, if anyone can help. I realise the church records are now held in TWA. Any help appreciated
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Hi Sabaru,
My work hours are not compatible with the archives opening hours just now. However, if you can wait a few weeks I think I will be able to go for you at some point, - let's say within the next 3 weeks.
Perhaps you could send me more details by pm?
I am sorry to hear you have had such a long time of waiting - hopefully I will be able to find your baptisms for you soon.
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Incidentally, what happened to David doing this search? Was he unable to follow through for some reason or did he try but the records could not be found?
I am just curious as to why things did not work out last time. I am happy to do this search for you if you don't mind waiting up to three weeks.
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Hi
I haven't been active on Rootschat much since then due to an upheaval at home. I didn't get any further with the search then. I changed email addresses and lost contact with lots of people. Not sure what happened with David's search but I'd welcome your help, and can wait however long you need ! I'll pm you tomorrow.
Regards
Rosemary
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I await you pm then.
Although my work hours are not compatible at the moment I do think I will be able to go to do this search for you at some point over the next few weeks. Within three weeks I would say. So don't worry - if they are at St Michael I should be able to find them for you. :)
It is a shame you have had such a long wait to find out about these baptisms.
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No pm has come through as yet. Have you sent to wrong person or have you not had time yet? :)
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Hi Subaru,
I am so excited for you! I have been able to find the baptisms for you that you have asked for and one for another member of the family which appears to have been a death bed baptism.
One of the three was baptized 6 years after they were born.
I am really pushed for time now so I am going to send you all the information tomorrow by pm.
I am just so pleased to be able to have found them finally for you after you have waited so long that I did not want to delay another day in letting you know that they are indeed at St Michael! :D
PS I will give you the microfilm number along with all the details. A staff member says that should you want copies to be sent for you (and as you will have all the details this would be classed as a straightforward research) they would only charge you £7 each for each person. So if you did want to purchase the copies of the baptisms for all three it would be £21.
Best Wishes :)
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Thank you so much :)you are an angel!!
I look forward to hearing from you. And I will definitely apply for the certificates. My mam is 90, and will be so pleased to see them x
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Hi Rosemary,
It is has been a pleasure to have been able to help you with this - especially as this will please your 90 year old Mother and also because the records show that what your Mother was told was the truth. You have shown such patience in waiting an incredible nine years from your first post about this to receive this information which I have just sent you by pm now.
You will see that there is more information provided on the baptisms. That is the great thing about RC baptisms - they like to cross reference so you often get a bit more information on records. I have also sent you a burial ceremony record.
Don't forget to provide the microfilm numbers I have given you when applying to Tyne and Wear Archives for copies of the entries. You are lucky - the records are of good quality. I don't understand some of the RC terms; perhaps you will. However, if you don't you could perhaps ask for help on here as some RootsChatters are very good at being able to transcribe RC speak into plain English.
Best Wishes :)