Carnival of Genealogy - Religious Rites a long standing tradition in our family

The topic for the 99th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be: Religious Rites. 

The earliest marriage record I have is for the marriage of my great-great-great grandparents, Richard Iles and Patience Blandford at the Parish Church in Brimpsfield, Gloucestershire 21 October 1822. It was there that they brought their fourteen children for baptism.

James Iles, my great-great grandfather, married Louisa Belcher also at the Parish Church in Brimpsfield. on 10 July 1845. James was a shepherd. The church records show that his work must have taken the family to other small communities as the children are baptized in different parishes.

Baptismal Dates and Locations
Albert - 31 August 1845 - Withington, Gloucestershire, England
Isaac  - 23 May 1847 - Brimpsfield, Gloucestershire, England

Eliza Jane - 2 November 1856 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire,  England
Susan - 2 November 1856 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire,  England
Mary Jane - 2  November 1856 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire,  England

Eliza Jane, Susan and Mary Jane are not triplets but for some reason, they were baptized on the same day.
Alice - 1 February 1857 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire, England
George  (my great-grandfather) - 2 January 1859 - Guiting Lower, Gloucestershire, England

I do not have baptismal records for the younger children: Charlotte, Emmanuel and Timothy.

Researchers seek out Parish records to learn about the milestone events in our ancestors' lives, prior to civil registration, which began in mid-1837 in England. Although baptismal records do not necessarily give the date of birth or burial records the date of death, these church records do provide helpful information. I know that I am happy to see that my ancestors' received the blessing of the church for these special events. I have not searched for baptismal records after 1859 for the Iles family.

My parents brought each of us for our baptismal service to Knox United, Owen Sound, when we were babies. The parents and babies lined the front of the sanctuary. I have my baptismal certificate. For many years, it was rolled up but I have placed in an archival sleeve so that I can show it and preserve it. In the past, the newspaper recorded the names of those baptized.

Some of my relatives are/were members of the Salvation Army. They do not have infant baptism but have a dedication service. According to family information, my great-aunt, Rose Dudley who was born in 1889, was the first child to be dedicated in the newly built Salvation Army Hall in Small Heath, Birmingham, England. Some family members have been or are Salvation Army officers both in Canada and England. They would have had an ordination service after completion of their studies.


Before I had my confirmation ceremony, I attended classes Sunday afternoons at the church for about a month. In those days, you didn't take your first communion until after confirmation. Now, in our church, little ones participate in the communion service.

 I am happy that my family has a long standing tradition of participating in religious rites in whichever church they attended.

© 2010 Janet Iles