Even though these records often contain errors, they are, without a doubt, our most important genealogical resource.
Language can be a barrier in reading the vital records.
Deciphering German Gothic handwriting is probably the most difficult aspect of working with the parish books. To the uninitiated, these records appear to be random scribbles. There are a number of books to help uncover the mystery of German Gothic script, but a certain amount of time staring uncomprehendingly at handwriting samples seems inevitable. It's a good idea to work on this before you arrive at the archives. Surprisingly enough, most handwriting found in 17th century parish books is quite similar to modern script.