The Mystery of the Mismatched Church Records

Andrea Bentschneider

Published on: 26/02/2026

Many genealogists rely heavily on church records. We search indexes, compare entries, and assume that a church book is simply the record. But what if there is more than one version? Understanding the difference between original and duplicate church books can explain why records, and even indexes, do not always match.

GGC Blog

German Church Books: A Genealogist's Goldmine

Andrea Bentschneider

Published on: 27/01/2026

Without church books, genealogical research in Germany would be... well, extremely limited. Going back more than a few generations would be nearly impossible without them.

GGC Blog

The Countdown to Christmas: The Advent Wreath

Andrea Bentschneider

Published on: 16/12/2025

Have you ever wondered where the tradition of counting down to Christmas began? (Hint - it all began in germany!)

GGC Blog