Closed Churches

[gh03]

Just a quick question. Usually if a Church has closed what would happen to their burial records?

Thanks

[Sandymc47]

Hi

Had a look for you and according to the Records of closed Churches
They have by Church law to be collected by the district Superintendant
and stored in a place of permanent safekeeping with the commission
of archives and history.
Basically, the nearest place they have.  If you know what Church
and area of the Country you are speaking about, how about letting
us know and someone will, I am sure, look it up for you.
Each city has its own place of saving this information.
Hope you find the ones you are looking for.

regards Sandymc   
 

[aghadowey]

Not sure if the above information applies only to Church of England records but if you can give us more details we might be able to help further.

[spendlove]

Hi,

Church Registers have to be stored in suitable, temperature controlled premises which costs a lot of money - this is why so many are held in County Record Offices, this said some are still held by the
various churches.

Think the first thing to do is contact the County Record Office for the County the Church is in to see
what deposits they have for that church.  If they are not in the RO, then approach Church Authorities.

Spendlove

[stanmapstone]

Registers of baptisms, marriages and burials and registers of banns, confirmations and services are, when completed, permanently deposited at the Diocesan Record Office. The Diocesan Record Office usually forms part of the county record office.
(3)The diocesan record office for a diocese or part thereof shall be the place which is for the time being designated by the bishop of the diocese as such an office by an instrument in writing.
Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978, as amended to 2003. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/1978/2

Stan

[pinefamily]

Stan, you never cease to amaze me, quoting the official jargon all the time. You must have a very interesting bookshelf!

[Nick Carver]

Will relate an anecdote that might be vaguely useful. Upon taking office as a churchwarden, I found a completed marriage register in our safe. The new one had been in use for several years. Actually, there were two identical registers. I took them to the local register's office who told me that 'Yes, they should be given to us when they are full', but 'We haven't received any here in donkey's years'. Rather illustrates the challenge of genealogy - those that should do things not being aware of their obligations on such matters.

[stanmapstone]

Section XXXIII. An Act for registering Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England. [17 August 1836] 6 & 7 Will. IV. c.86
........and one Copy of every such Register Book, when filled, shall be delivered to the Superintendent Registrar of the District in which such Church or Chapel may be situated, or which shall have been assigned as aforesaid to such Registering Officer or Secretary, and the other Copy of every such Register Book kept by any such Rector, Vicar, or Curate shall remain in the keeping of such Rector, Vicar, or Curate, and shall be kept by him with the registers of Baptisms and Burials of the Parish or Chapelry within which the Marriages registered therein shall have been solemnized;

http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/View?path=Browse/Legislation%20%28by%20date%29&active=yes&mno=4044

Stan

[ainslie]

Stan
While you have your textbook off the shelf,could you advise on this one:  a 'live' church, CofE, sends its completed registers to the approved record office.  The vicar receives a request for a certified copy of an entry in a closed register.
Whose responsibility is it  [a] to obtain the copy from the record office and to certify the entry.
The record office, incidentally, is currently closed for normal business while renovationsa re carried out!

A