The Mansfield Family History Centre, hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Berry Hill, has been relaunched under a new name — Mansfield Family Search Centre.

At a relaunch open day, the chapel was full of interactive displays representing periods in time.

Visitors also had the chance to chat with volunteers from the centre and find out what facilities are available for researchers.

For example, people can access thousands of parish registers and other documents that are not otherwise accessible online due to copyright restrictions. People can also browse several subscription family history websites free, such as Ancestry, Findmypast, and MyHeritage.

Denis Hill, of the centre, said: “It is exciting to have Mansfield Family Search Centre open again after its closure caused by the pandemic.

“The centre offers family historians the chance to meet like-minded people, share experiences, and learn from one another.

“The relaunch event was deemed a great success with a constant flow of people enjoying talking about their family history, learning more from the exhibitions, and soaking in the atmosphere of what it might have been like to live in times gone by.

“For those who felt energetic, they were able to recall earlier days by playing hopscotch or having a go at skipping in the school playground!”

The centre is run by volunteers and its service are free. It is open on Thursdays, from 12noon to 6pm, but can open at other times if required, email [email protected] to make an appointment.