Ron wrote here....... > (1) What does OPR abbreviate? Old Parish Records? Old Parochial Registers? Yes on both scores. Usage has seen to that! The time period is virtually pre- 1855, a few later events overlap. > (2) How broad is the coverage? Do they cover all the parishes in Scotland > back into the 1600s or just selected ones? Most parishes, and probably almost all of those for the Church of Scotland. <But first>, note that these records are accessed along different routes: * Original handwritten registers- images searchable in Edinburgh, and at any Family History Centre. Various faiths. * INDEX to Church of Scotland Registers. Searchable on FICHE, or CD at any FH Centre, and in Edinburgh, and some large libraries. Searchable on- line to ORIGINS and LDS FamilySearch. For other faiths eg RC, Free, Episcopal, Methodist etc there is no name Index. > (3) How complete is the coverage? Very far from complete. Many folk did not attend church for these events. Births were generally not recorded pre 1855, just baptisms. > (4) Are additional records being added on a continuing basis? Old records as discovered are added to the archives but releases for public access, probably very delayed [Ten? thirty? years] Cheers......... -- ALISTAIR M. CAMERON