St Michael's Church, Elswick

[Subaru]

Does anybody live anywhere St Michael's who would be able to do a look-up for a baptism please?

It's a strange case, I've written over the years half a dozen times, and offered to pay for the certificates of my mam and uncle.
The priest who is there has actually phoned me twice about it, once we had a conversation for half an hour.  But each time I write, or speak to him by phone, the certificates don't materialise.

I don't know why, maybe there aren't any certificates, and my mam was led to believe they were baptised.  I know that her parents didn't marry because her dad was already married.  It's a long story.

But if somebody could even look at the book for me and confirm if the baptisms are there, that would be great

Rosemary

[c-side]

Hi Rosemary

I've been looking on genuki to see where the records are kept but they don't list a St. Michaels in Elswick.

Also you don't say what dates you are looking for.

Christine

[c-side]

Sorry, spotted it now 

[Michael Dixon]

 Rosemary,

 Is the church in question, St Michael's of Byker ( started in 1860s) ?

Helpers don't need to live near the actual church. Film of records of most churches in the area are in archives, libraries etc.  e.g. Tyne & wear Archives !

Michael

[Subaru]

I thought I would see if anybody was able to actually access the baptism records before I went into detail.

The years are 1923 and 1928.

Rosemary

[Michael Dixon]

 Yes, Rosemary, but getting the right church is important also.

 The records of St Michael's Byker, Newcastle are accessible in the Tyne and Wear Archives, in Newcastle.    In their catalogue the do not list a St Michael's of Elswick !

Michael

[Subaru]

It's the one on Westmorland Road Michael.

I've actually sat outside the church with my mam a couple of years ago, but it was closed at the time.  If I had known how hard it was going to be to access the records, I would have gone and knocked at the priest's house behind it.  We didn't have time to stop that day.

Rosemary

[Michael Dixon]

 Well Rosemary, I have made progress - and am on the same hymn sheet as you....I have identified the church Roman Catholic St Michael's.

 And in within the next week I will check with Tyne & Wear Archives to ascertain if they hold baptism records of the church.

(User Guide No.12 of the Archives is on line www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk
The guide lists the Roman Catholic records held, but does not list St Michael's)

There was a time not so long ago when there was a handful of RC churches in Tyneside which had not given up their records for copying, on instructions from Bishop Ambrose. But I thought all had complied by now.

As you might guess from my profile, I frequently do Roman Catholic research re my mother's Gallagher family, Sligo to Northumberland and Durham.

Internet tells me Father Bellamy is on Tel 0191-273-3582.

Michael

[Subaru]

Hi Michael

I've actually spoken to Father Bellamy two or three times.  Each time he receives a letter from me, giving lots of dates and information, he has called and promised that he would look for me when he has time, and send them on.  As I said, I offered to send payment first, but he declined it.  He knew my uncle, who died a couple of months ago, and was very helpful on the phone.

I can only think that he has looked, and found nothing, thinking it might offend my family, being catholic.  But it wouldn't bother me at all, I've found worse skeletons in the family closet than that.

Thanks for the offer of research Michael.  There is a catholic church in the town where I live who haven't yet complied concerning their old registers.  It is so hard to get information from them, and only certain people are allowed access to the books.  I can't see the problem, once they are photographed and recorded, they wouldn't be bothered again by researchers would they?

Anyway good luck