So I just attached a record of a deceased relative's baptism. The relative needed a location for the
Answers
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Usually, but not always.
This can be tricky to answer.
It will depend on where they lived and some circumstances.
Let me explain...
For example, in olden days this may have happened at/around/right after birth. We would still appreciate that they created records for the person.
An example is that if you can see their birthdate and christening they will be around the same time that they were born. This is very common in 17th and 18th century records. You may find a christening record with parents names, and a church. The locations in these times were often rural and county churches rather than city parishes/churches also. (It helps to know this.) A church may be for the entire area.
All records are useful for family search. We just want to help people find their ancestors and family members. We want to help.
Most records would be the scenario above, by far. So usually you could use the christening line and baptism as the same thing.
A different example may be if a person joins a church when an adult or older this isn't the same as a christening record which usually means giving them a name. This would be a baptismal record. This type of example doesn't happen as often in the old countries people came from however. Usually they were very traditional then.
Different countries usually would be similar to other records in the same country following patterns, as religion was often influenced by the state. (But not always.)
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I haven’t found an option to add “baptism” ... the option for “christening” is available. I think i just selected religious affiliation and added it there... and of course the option to to enter a “custom” label as well.
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I was sure "Baptism" was listed in the "Other Information - Events" section, but see it is not. Unfortunately, some indexing projects appear to give instructions to record certain events as baptisms, whereby (in the source linking process) they do get added as a Custom Event instead of as a Christening (in the Vitals section).
Whilst a (usually childhood) christening event is synonymous with the baptism ritual in most major churches, I believe many churches that adhere to the practice of adult baptism would not regard that event as a christening.
In summary, I believe childhood baptisms should always be treated as "christenings", but a baptism in later life can be appropriately added just as a Custom Event. If entered as a christening, with the Birth field blank, the date is used as a substitute for the birth date by the Family Tree program - which (with adult baptisms) then presents a completely incorrect idea about the individual's approximate birth date.
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@Daniel Hill Starr
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Daniel
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Just my thoughts ...
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Although, the terms, "Baptism"; and, "Christening", are somewhat synonymous, they do have slightly different meanings; especially, among the different Religions (ie. Denominations/Faiths)
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Now ...
That said ...
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'FamilySearch' "Wiki'
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A Glossary of Genealogical Terms
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Baptism, general
An initiation into a Christian church, usually performed by sprinkling the individual with water or immersing the individual in water.
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Baptismal records
Records created when an individual participates in the rite or ordinance of baptism to become a member of a church.
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Christen, religious
To baptize an individual or to give an infant a name.
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Christening records
Records created when an individual is christened (a religious ceremony in which an individual is baptized or an infant is given a name).
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And ...
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For some 'light' bedtime reading ...
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WikiPedia
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Baptism
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_baptism
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Christening
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christening
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Just some Other website links ...
[ But, not limited to ... ]
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https://churchofenglandchristenings.org/for-parents/is-a-baptism-different-to-a-christening/
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https://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/the-sacraments/171
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http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-baptism-and-christening/
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https://difference.guru/difference-between-baptism-and-christening/
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https://aleteia.org/2019/07/17/is-baptism-the-same-as-christening/
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Phew ...
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Whereas ...
Currently, in "Family Tree" of 'Family Search' ...
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In the "Vitals" Section ...
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ONLY the term/word "Christening" appears ...
But, Users/Patrons use that "Vital" for, EITHER, "Christening"/"Baptism" ...
There is no 'hard and fast' rule ... the choice is yours.
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In the "Other Information" Section ...
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Under "Events", there used to be a 'pre-defined' Field being "Baptism"; but, that has recently been "Removed", for whatever reason.
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Plus, under "Events" there are STILL the following 'pre-defined' Fields:
▬ Bar Mitzvah ... [ Jewish ]
▬ Bat Mitzvah ... [ Jewish ]
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And ...
Of course ...
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Also, , under "Events" there are ALWAYS the 'user-defined' field option:
▬ Custom Event ... [ ie. Create your own (eg. Baptism) ]
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Basically, 'don't sweat' over it ...
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The choice is yours ...
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I hope this helps.
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Brett
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Brett
Thanks for confirming there was, until recently, a Baptism field in Other Information. I thought I had been imagining things! Perhaps it has been removed because of the term generally applying to the same event as a christening. In which case, it might have been better to retitle it as "Adult Baptism", to make it easier for those who, say, changed their denomination to have a clear place in which such events can be recorded / highlighted.
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😀
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