Parish books of the city of Zurich, baptism and marriage book Grossmünster 1708-1762

The parish books of the parish offices or parishes of the city of Zurich contain **Baptisms, marriages, deaths** and often **confirmations**. They are incorporated in the Zurich City Archives into the stock ***“VIII.C., parish books”*** and sorted by parishes. The parish offices have maintained the **baptism, marriage and death registers** since the **reformation period** on duty; **to far into the 19th century** according to cantonal regulations. With the **creation of civil status offices (1876)**, which were introduced at federal level, the civil status offices were newly responsible for keeping these registers. Due to this innovation, the parish books of the municipal parishes (including those of the Catholic Church) were handed over to the municipal administration in January 1876. The **Kirchgemeinde Grossmünster** comprised the city of Zurich to the right of the Limmat, the then “great city”, where today the Lower and Oberdorf is located. Furthermore, the suburban communities of Fluntern, Oberstrass and Unterstrass, as well as — until 1834 — also included Hottingen, Hirslanden and Riesbach. In addition, the Preacher Church was the branch of the Grossmünster from 1544 to 1614; after that, it was separated from the parish of Grossmünster — with Fluntern, Oberstrass and Unterstrass.