Genealogy Chat

To view Parish Registers?

I'm trying to to decide whether or not it's cheaper (unfortunately always a consideration) and more convenient to go to my nearest LDS Centre (which is some distance away and only open for a few hours each week) or buy the Fiche from the FHS and take them down to my library (which is in walking distance).

M. Steer

Why not phone and ask them............

Reg

Reg, that's the obvious answer I know but they're hardly ever open.

I just thought someone might be able to give an idea of cost and how long you can have them I don't want to spends pounds for just a couple of hours and then have to pay again the following week.

M. Steer

I've never been to one of the centres, but I understand that they only make a charge if they have to order the records for you.........I may be wrong, of course.

Have you looked at their website to see if any info is given there?

Reg

Margaret, the fee for the LDS to get the fisches or films is about 0.50p to a £1.00, they will keep it on site for a month for the cost.

If you decide that you want them to keep it longer then a another small contribution is needed.

The biggest problem is booking a viewing time that coincides with your availability and a free fische or film reader.

Photocopies are chargeable also.

Its worth joining and visiting at least once "just for the LDS experience".

You are best however to confirm all I have said with your local centre.

Regards, Bob

II have a feeling it's only about 2 or 3 pounds and I think you can have them for a number of weeks. If your local one isn't open much, why not ring a larger office, or I think you could email the one in Hyde Park. I would imagine they all charge the same.

Margaret, the fee for the LDS to get the fisches or films is about 0.50p to a £1.00, they will keep it on site for a month for the cost.

If you decide that you want them to keep it longer then a another small contribution is needed.

The biggest problem is booking a viewing time that coincides with your availability and a free fische or film reader.

Photocopies are chargeable also.

Its worth joining and visiting at least once "just for the LDS experience".

You are best however to confirm all I have said with your local centre.

Regards, Bob

Reg, yes I've looked at their website and it's not very clear. The few prices quoted are in US dollars. They also don't make it clear whether or not you have to pay for each visit (a couple of hours soon goes by when your doing genealogy!)

M. Steer

Thanks all,

I think it might be cheaper (in the long run) and certainly more convenient to buy the fiche and use my local library to view them.

M. Steer

Margaret

Have you tried the local family history soc associated with the area you're interested in.

I know alot of them have transcribed registers and you can purchase them from them. 'google' the soc concerned.

Hi it was £2.70 to order a film per month last year, a bit more but not much to extend to 3 months

Teresa

Patricia, the Cambridgeshire FHS does have the Parish Registers but only on microfiche and they don't cost a fortune. That's why I wondered if it would be a better idea to buy the microfiche and go to the local library and use their microfiche reader.

M. Steer

You don't have to pay to visit LDS just for what fische /films you order.

It's £2 - £3 for a film - for a month. The cost of the film is quite low it's the postage that adds to it. That's why it's only £1 or so to keep the film at the centre for a further period - I think up to 3 months.

Jill

I didnt know the parish reg came on microfiche. Are they copies of the original reg or are they just transcripts? Errors can creep into transcripts.
Here in New Zealand I have ordered many films of parish reg through the LDS, our local one being open for 2 hrs 6 mornings a week and a couple of evenings. Most people would find a 2 hrs plenty to view a film at one sitting. It can be a bit hard on the eyes sometimes.
I also order films of the censuses.
I always believe in getting printouts of anything relating to my ancestors, so I can use it as proof if a family member disputes my finds (not that they do usually.)

All the parish records I've ordered from an LDS centre have been on Microfilm and not on fishe. It's just a couple of pounds and they do keep them a month, but if no one else is waiting for it they will often keep the film longer (at no extra cost at my local centre), although this was a while ago.

You will find the staff very helpful and a visit will be a worthwhile experience. The centres have much more than just BMD's and parish records.

Kath. x

........they are all film or fische, a massive Mormon project during the 1960-70's to obtain the souls of all departed......thank goodness for us researchers.

Bob

Thanks everyone for your tips.

The decision has been made for me.

I went into my Library today to double check the info., they'd previously given me. They have microfilm readers but not microfiche.

The microfiche from the CFHS is transcribed so could contain errors.

The good news is my nearest LDS Center has considerably extended its opening hours and it has a Car Park (worth its weight in gold in Town).

M. Steer