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[[Pennsylvania]] was founded as a place of refuge and religious freedom for many diverse groups from Great Britain and Europe. Important religious groups in colonial Pennsylvania were the Society of Friends (Quakers), the German Lutheran, German Reformed, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist, and Catholic churches, and the German Pietist groups, including the Brethren (Dunkard), Mennonites, and Moravians. Before 1900 the major religious groups in Pennsylvania were the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic churches.  
[[Pennsylvania]] was founded as a place of refuge and religious freedom for many diverse groups from Great Britain and Europe. Important religious groups in colonial Pennsylvania were the Society of Friends (Quakers), the German Lutheran, German Reformed, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist, and Catholic churches, and the German Pietist groups, including the Brethren (Dunkard), Mennonites, and Moravians. Before 1900 the major religious groups in Pennsylvania were the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic churches.  


Because the keeping of vital records began late in the history of Pennsylvania, church records will play a  roll in family history research. It is important that the researcher know the religious affiliation of their ancestor and be able to identify the church or churches their ancestor attended. County histories can help identfy extinct and extant churches in the locality where the ancestor lived.  
Because the keeping of vital records began late in the history of Pennsylvania, church records will play a  roll in family history research. It is important that the researcher know the religious affiliation of their ancestor and be able to identify the church or churches their ancestor attended. County histories can help identfy extinct and extant churches in the locality where the ancestor lived.  


Ministers assigned to a particular church may have "rode the circuit' to outlying areas to perform various ordinances for their parishoners. Records for itnerate (circuit riders) ministers may be recorded in their personal records or the records of the church where they are assigned. County histories may help to identify pastors who served in the particular county and what churches they were assigned too.  
Ministers assigned to a particular church may have "rode the circuit' to outlying areas to perform various ordinances for their parishoners. Records for itnerate (circuit riders) ministers may be recorded in their personal records or the records of the church where they are assigned. County histories may help to identify pastors who served in the particular county and what churches they were assigned too.  
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If the records can only be viewed at the church, make an appointment with the minister or secretary to examine the records. Remember, the records are the property of the church. There may be instances when the minister or a representive will not allow you to view the record but will look at the record for you.  
If the records can only be viewed at the church, make an appointment with the minister or secretary to examine the records. Remember, the records are the property of the church. There may be instances when the minister or a representive will not allow you to view the record but will look at the record for you.  


A detailed Historical Records Survey inventory of church records available at the State Library of Pennsylvania is Inventory of Church Archives in Pennsylvania, Historical Records Survey (on 72 Family History Library films beginning with [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=384182&disp=Inventory+of+church+archives+in+Pennsylv%20%20&columns=*,0,0 1014729]). It lists many Pennsylvania churches existing in the 1930s. It is arranged by county and can help you identify the church your ancestors attended.  
A detailed Historical Records Survey inventory of church records available at the State Library of Pennsylvania is Inventory of Church Archives in Pennsylvania, Historical Records Survey (on 72 Family History Library films beginning with [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=384182&disp=Inventory+of+church+archives+in+Pennsylv%20%20&columns=*,0,0 1014729]). It lists many Pennsylvania churches existing in the 1930s. It is arranged by county and can help you identify extant churches for that time period.  


The [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library] has extensive collections of church records for the Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed (United Church of Christ), and Society of Friends denominations. Many transcripts of local church records have been published.  
The [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library] has extensive collections of church records for the Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed (United Church of Christ), and Society of Friends denominations. Many transcripts of local church records have been published.  
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=== Church Record Repositories  ===
=== Church Record Repositories  ===


Many denominations have deposited their records in central repositories. You can write to the following addresses for more information. Additional copies of church records may be located at the county historical and genealogical societies. Records at the societies may be more easily accessible.   
Many denominations have deposited their records in central repositories. You can write to the following addresses for more information. Additional copies of church records may be located at the county historical or genealogical societies. Records at the local societies may be more accessible.   


=== Baptist  ===
=== Baptist  ===
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Archives of the Evangelical and Reformed Church<br>Philip Schaff Library<br>Evangelical and Reformed Historical Library<br>555 W. James Street<br>Lancaster, PA 17603-2830<br>Telephone: 717-290-8707<br>Fax: 717-393-4254<br>[mailto:library@lancasterseminary.edu <br>]
Archives of the Evangelical and Reformed Church<br>Philip Schaff Library<br>Evangelical and Reformed Historical Library<br>555 W. James Street<br>Lancaster, PA 17603-2830<br>Telephone: 717-290-8707<br>Fax: 717-393-4254<br>[mailto:library@lancasterseminary.edu <br>]


[mailto:library@lancasterseminary.edu '''Website'''<nowiki>: http://www.erhs.info/</nowiki><br>]
w[mailto:library@lancasterseminary.edu '''ebsite'''<nowiki>: http://www.erhs.info/</nowiki><br>]


A guide to the records in this library is Florence M. Bricker, comp. and ed., ''Church and Pastoral Records in the Archives of the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, Lancaster, PA''(Lancaster, PA: The Society, 1982; Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=974.815 book 974.815/LI K23e).]  
A guide to the records in this library is Florence M. Bricker, comp. and ed., ''Church and Pastoral Records in the Archives of the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, Lancaster, PA''(Lancaster, PA: The Society, 1982; Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=974.815 book 974.815/LI K23e).]  
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=== Roman Catholic  ===
=== Roman Catholic  ===


Archives of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia<br>St. Charles Borromeo Seminary<br>100 E. Wynnewood Road<br>Wynnewood, PA 19096<br>Telephone: 610-667-3394<br>
Pennsylvania is divided into seven dioceses:
 
Allentown
 
Altoona
 
Erie
 
[http://www.hbgdiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese Harrisburg]
 
4800 Union Deposit Road
 
Harrisburg, PA 17111
 
Phone: (717) 657-4804
 
<br>
 
Philadelphia
 
Pittsburgh
 
[http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/index.asp Diocese of Scranton],
 
300 Wyoming Avenue
 
Scranton, PA 18593
 
Phone: (570) 207-2238&nbsp;
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1284158031398_438" />Archives of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia<br>St. Charles Borromeo Seminary<br>100 E. Wynnewood Road<br>Wynnewood, PA 19096<br>Telephone: 610-667-3394<br>
 
 


For a listing of many vital records, see Albert H. Ledoux. ''Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania'', 4 vols. (Altoona, PA: A. H. Ledoux, 1993-1996; Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=644078&disp=Catholic+vital+records+of+central+Pennsy%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 974.8 K2Le]).  
For a listing of many vital records, see Albert H. Ledoux. ''Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania'', 4 vols. (Altoona, PA: A. H. Ledoux, 1993-1996; Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=644078&disp=Catholic+vital+records+of+central+Pennsy%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 974.8 K2Le]).  
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