Church

Ste. Anne's, the first Roman Catholic Church in Michigan, was established shortly after the founding of Detroit in 1701. The first Protestant church in Michigan belonged to the Moravians, who worshipped at Mount Clemens during the Revolutionary War. A Congregational minister had religious services at Detroit as early as 1800; the first Methodist minister visited Michigan in 1803. By 1865, the Methodist Church was the largest Protestant denomination in Michigan. Other Protestant denominations active in early Michigan include the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, and Lutherans.

Church records vary in their content depending on the denomination and/or the individual pastor responsible for the records. Genealogists may find vital records in the form of baptisms, marriage ceremonies, and burials. Membership lists can serve as a type of community census, while church council minutes and reports can yield other genealogical gems.

The location of church records -- particularly early church records -- may depend on the denomination and/or individual pastor who was responsible for the records. Church records may still be with the church, or they may be with the heirs of an early pastor. Some denominations have reginal or state archives. Other record collections may be found at libraries or museums. Because there is no central depository for all Michigan church records, it's impossible to make a blanket statement regarding their location.

For more information about church records, see Chapter 4 of Michigan Genealogy.

A companion site for the book Michigan Genealogy.
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