Hours of Operation: Open Wednesdays by appointment only.
To schedule an appointment or make a request, please email our archivist, Justine Soles.
Email: archives@bc.anglican.ca
Phone: 250.386.7781 x 241
The Diocesan Archives is the official repository for the records of Synod, its officials, clergy, parishes and organizations. The archives provides safe, secure, and controlled storage to ensure long-term preservation of records that have significant and enduring administrative, legal, or historical value.
History of the name
Originally the Diocese of British Columbia included all of what is known today as the Province of British Columbia. In 1879 the province was divided into three dioceses: Caledonia, New Westminster, and British Columbia. The Diocese of British Columbia (now known as the Diocese of Islands and Inlets) is responsible only for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Holdings
The Diocesan Archives includes records of:
- Parishes – including baptism/confirmation/marriage/burial registers, vestry books, council minutes, histories, newsletters, property and financial information
- Diocesan Synod Journals
- Records of diocesan committees, councils, task forces, and organizations
- Architectural plans
- Historical copies of the Diocesan Post newspaper
- Photos of diocesan and parish activities and events
- Records of bishops, some individual clergy, and lay persons
Search the holdings on: MemoryBC
Note: Not all records have been described on MemoryBC. Contact the archivist for further inquiries.
Access
Most archival records are publicly accessible, although some are subject to restrictions under the BC Personal Information Privacy Act (PIPA) and Diocesan privacy policy. The archivist will advise on any restrictions of requested materials.
Baptism/Confirmation/Marriage/Burial certificates
The archives is the repository for all completed parish registers. Please note that Privacy legislation applies to all registers, so you can only request your own records unless it is:
A baptism more than 100 years old
A marriage more than 75 years old
A burial more than 20 years old
If you are requesting a record on behalf of someone else, please be sure to have them send written permission to the archives so that the archivist can release the record to you. Fill out the Parish Register Inquiry Form (see downloads below) and return to the archivist.
Copying and publishing
Subject to access permissions, copying fees, and copyright legislation, visitors may take photos or request scans of archival material. The researcher is responsible for obtaining copyright permissions.
Publishing archival photographs and historical documents that are not of a legal or personal nature is no problem as long as usage agreements have been signed and proper credit is given to the Anglican Diocese of BC Archives.
Offers by third parties to copy parish registers in exchange for access will not be accepted. Burial information should not be given or sold to outside bodies or posted on websites without the consent of the diocese.
Fees
In order to help support the maintenance of the archives, the Diocesan Archives charges fees for its services. It is $25 for copies of baptism/confirmation/marriage/burial records (this fee may be waived based on the nature of the request). Extensive research requests will be charged an hourly rate of $20 at the discretion of the Archivist, please fill out and return the Research Request Form (see downloads below). Extensive photocopy requests are $0.25/page. Scans of photos are $15.00 plus the cost of printing. Fees are payable by cheque or cash to the Archives of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia. Fees do not apply to parish business.
To download Archive Forms, click on the download link at the bottom of the page.
Parish Register Inquiry Form
The completion of a signed Parish Register Inquiry Form is required for the release of records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials containing personal information. In order for us to comply with church policy and BC privacy laws, the form is designed to establish the requestors right to the personal information contained in the record.
Research Request Form
The completion of a signed Research Request Form is required prior to the undertaking of more extensive research projects. This form helps us keep track of requests and understand the nature of the inquiry.
Parish Records Retention Schedule
The Parish Records Retention Schedule identifies parish records of legal and historical value. The schedule informs how long to keep records and which records should be transferred to the Archives or disposed. Contact the Archivist for any questions.