Closed Churches

[stanmapstone]

Is this for a marriage? If so then only searches in marriage registers before 1st July 1837 are allowed for in the "Searches in Church Registers" table of Parochial Fees. The fee payable is £19 for up to one hour. Marriage Registers after 1st July 1837 are under the control of the Registrar General.
A certified copy of a marriage certificate can only be supplied  by the Register Office.

Stan

[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

In the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1929, a diocese record office was defined as a church-owned building. However, the 1978 measure aimed to draw on the network of records offices that were subsequently established throughout the country and the Local Government (Records) Act 1962, which allowed local authority record offices to acquire and care for records of local significance.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/legislation/parochial-registers.htm

Stan

[ainslie]

Stan
Thanks for your expertise.  The enquiry was for a much more recent baptism, linked to an apllication for entry to a school.

A

[stanmapstone]

Then searches are allowed for a Baptism, again the statutory fee laid down is £19 for up to an hour including the provision of one copy of any entry. I don't know what the procedure is if the registers are not available. You would probably have to contact the diocesan office.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Normally a baptism certificate is given to the parents at the baptism. Our vicar makes a point of telling them that the certificate is an important document and should be kept safe as you never know when it will be needed 

Stan

[ainslie]

Very true.  I was baptised xxx years ago and have never seen or been asked for my certificate!
Thanks again.
A