Facts on Local Church Records

South Carolina church records play an important role in genealogical research, in the absence of early marriage and vital records. Some of South Carolina's church records are on microfilm at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the FHL. These are some of the various denominations:

Baptist

The Baptist church is contemporary South Carolina's largest religious group, despite the fact that it was not established there until 1783. There are two online collections of notices derived from Baptist newspapers in South Carolina. They are South Carolina Baptist Deaths and Marriages, 1866-87 & South Carolina Baptist Marriages and Deaths, 1835-65

Lutheran

Lutherans also established themselves in South Carolina during the eighteenth century with the arrival of German and Swiss settlers. Early Evangelical Lutheran records are excellent genealogical resources.

Church of England

The Church of England was established as the official state-supported church of South Carolina in 1706, with responsibility for recording births, christenings, marriages, and burials. Between 1706 and 1778, twenty-five parishes were established, including two for the Huguenots, who were allowed to use a French version of the Book of Common Prayer. All of the extant parish registers have been published; most have appeared in The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine or in book form. The Church of England parishes created in 1706 recorded christenings, marriages, and burials, and these registers can serve as vital records for much of the colonial period.

Quakers

Quakers settled in South Carolina early; the first group was joined by emigrants from Ireland in the 1750s and by Quakers from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia after 1760.

French Huguenots

French Huguenots began to settle permanently in South Carolina in 1685 when land grants were issued along the shoreline. While most of the group's early records have been lost, some publications speak of early members and their families.

Presbyterian

Presbyterians established their denomination in South Carolina during the early eighteenth century and later became associated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Roman Catholic

The first Roman Catholic parish was established at Charleston in 1789. Known for keeping excellent records of christenings, marriages, and burials, the church has preserved its registers. 

Methodists

Methodists arrived in South Carolina about the same time as the Baptists (1783). Methodist records include conference records, membership lists, and historical and biographical information.

The DAR have compiled major collections of South Carolina tombstone inscriptions. Most South Carolina counties have historical or genealogical societies that have compiled cemetery records. Cemetery records are frequently published in the major genealogical periodicals of South Carolina.

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Facts on Local Cemetery Records

   The WPA and the DAR have compiled major collections of South Carolina tombstone inscriptions. Most South Carolina counties have historical or genealogical societies that have compiled cemetery records. Schweitzer has addresses for local historical and genealogical societies. Cemetery records are frequently published in the major genealogical periodicals of South Carolina (see Periodicals)

   Cemetery records and gravestone inscriptions are a rich source of information for family historians. Cemetery and other sources of information associated with death include:

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