Zimbabwe Church Records

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Zimbabwe

Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Zimbabwe, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources and Websites

• 1898-1957: Parish registers (baptisms, banns, marriages, burials, confirmations), Church of England in Rhodesia, Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), 1898-1957, 1898-1957 at FamilySearch – images
• 1890-1941: Church records, 1890-1941 at FamilySearch – images
• 1890-1956: Church records, 1890-1956 at FamilySearch – images
• 1892-1933: Church records, 1892-1933 at FamilySearch – images
• 1896-1924: Church records, 1896-1924 at FamilySearch – images
• 1690-2011 - South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1838-1991 - South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church Registers (Pretoria Archive), 1838-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Zimbabwe, index and images, ($)
• British Civil Service Evidence Of Age, Rhodesia, index ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Zimbabwe, index and images, ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, Zimbabwe, index and images, ($)

Historical Background

For a listing of many churches in Zimbabwe, see Zimbabwe Council of Churches, at World Council of Churches
According to the 2017 Inter Censal Demography Survey by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency 69.2 percent of Zimbabweans belong to Protestant Christianity, 8.0 percent are Roman Catholic, in total 84.1 percent follow one of the denominations of Christianity.

Most Zimbabweans Christians are Protestants. The Protestant Christian churches with large membership are Anglican (represented by the Church of the Province of Central Africa), Seventh-day Adventist and Methodist.

There are about one million Roman Catholics in the country (about 7% of the total population). The country contains two archdioceses (Harare and Bulawayo), which each contain three dioceses Chinhoyi, Gokwe, and Mutare; and Gweru, Hwange, and Masvingo; respectively).

A variety of local churches and groups have emerged from the mainstream Christian churches over the years: Zimbabwe Assemblies of God and the Seven Apostles.

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:

baptism date the infant's name parents' names father's occupation

status of legitimacy occasionally, names of grandparents names of witnesses or godparents, who may be relatives

birth date and place the family's place of residence death information, as an added note or signified by a cross

Marriages

Marriage registers can give:

the marriage date the names of the bride and groom indicate whether the bride and groom were single or widowed their ages

birth dates and places for the bride and groom their residences their occupations

birthplaces of the bride and groom parents' names (after 1800) the names of previous spouses and their death dates names of witnesses, who might be relatives.

Burials

Burial registers may give:

the name of the deceased the date and place of death or burial the deceased's age place of residence

cause of death the names of survivors, especially a widow or widower deceased's birth date and place parents' names, or at least the father's name

How to Find Records

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 Zimbabwe.

b. Click on Places within Zimbabwe 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. . 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.

• Maps.me Churches in Zimbabwe: addresses for 165 churches.

African Apostolic Church Records

Writing for Records

African Apostolic Church
8 Jefferson Road, Hatfield
Harare, Zimbabwe 0001

Phone: +263 77 328 4867

• Website

Historical Background

In 1932, Johane Marange (born: Muchabaya Momberume) baptized many in a local river, and his efforts in the decades that followed led to the African Apostolic Church, the second largest ministry in Zimbabwe.

Anglican Church Records

How to Find the Records

Most of these parish registers are housed in the National Archives in the United Kingdom. FamilySearch has a large amount of Anglican church records available online.

Online Resources and Websites

• 1898-1957: Parish registers (baptisms, banns, marriages, burials, confirmations), Church of England in Rhodesia, Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), 1898-1957, 1898-1957 at FamilySearch – images
• 1890-1941: Church records, 1890-1941 at FamilySearch – images
• 1890-1956: Church records, 1890-1956 at FamilySearch – images
• 1892-1933: Church records, 1892-1933 at FamilySearch – images
• 1896-1924: Church records, 1896-1924 at FamilySearch – images

Writing for Records

For more recent records (in the last 75-100 years), you may need to write to the individual church:

• Google Maps search results for Anglican churches in Zimbabwe
• Church address list for Diocese of Masvingo
• Anglican Diocese of Harare
• Anglican Diocese of Central Zimbabwe
• Contact information for Diocese of Matabeleland

Historical Background

The first Christian mission arrived in Zimbabwe in 1859 because of the efforts of London Missionary Society. Their work began among the Zulu people. David Livingstone appealed to the British government to assign land and protection to Christian missions, which led to a land grant to the Universities Mission in 1888 and the center of missionary activity to the Zulu and Shona peoples. Most Zimbabweans are Protestant Christians, and the majority of Protestants are Anglican.

Assembly of God Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Assembly of God churches in Zimbabwe

Historical Background

Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) is one of Africa’s most significant pentecostal movements. It numbers 300,00-400,000 members in Zimbabwe and has branches in at least a dozen other African countries. It was founded by artisans and casual workers living in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare [Salisbury], during the late 1950s. The movement itself emerged from the South African derived pentecostal church,the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM).

Catholic Church Records

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: Zimbabwe

Historical Background

There were 1,145,000 Catholics in the country (about 9% of the total population) in 2005. There are eight dioceses, including two archdioceses.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records

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

Total Church Membership: 32,937. Congregations: 80.

Missionary work began in what was then Southern Rhodesia in the early 1930s, but soon slowed. It was continued only by short visits by missionaries from South Africa. In 1950, eight missionaries were sent to Salisbury and Bulawayo, and the first convert was baptized in February 1951.

On April 17, 1951 missionaries distributed 3,000 handbills and a fairly large crowd attended an introductory meeting. The first services were held in a preschool building, and prospective members sat on tiny chairs. Later they met in the cloak room of a primary school.

In 1980 the government changed and the nation of Zimbabwe was formed. A new mission was established in Zimbabwe. At that time, membership was a little more than 1,000. Missionary work increased as local missionaries began serving full-time missions.

Dutch Reformed Church Records

Online Resources and Websites

• 1690-2011 - South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1838-1991 - South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church Registers (Pretoria Archive), 1838-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Historical Background

The Reformed Church in Zimbabwe was founded by Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa missionaries in 1891. Andrew A. Louw begun to preach among Shona people. The worship language of churches was Afrikaans and English. Later the denomination expanded among Nyanja people. In 1995, a new center was opened in Dete. It had 46 congregations and 150 house fellowships and about 90,000 members in 2004.

Methodist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Zimbabwe

Historical Background

The first Methodist mission arrived in 1896, with members from the United Kingdom and the United States. The British worked with the white settlers, while the Americans worked with the native Africans.

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe

Historical Background

Pentecostalism arrived in the 1920s, and grew rapidly, with the Zion Christian Church now the largest Protestant following in Zimbabwe.

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

• Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Zimbabwe
• Website

Historical Background

The Seventh-Day Adventists and Central African Christian Mission established their missions in 1890s.

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