England Church Records: Difference between revisions

[[England|England]]&nbsp;|&nbsp;[[England Civil Registration|'''Civil Registration''']]&nbsp; |&nbsp; [[England Census|'''Census''']]&nbsp; |&nbsp; [[England Probate Records|'''Probate''']]&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>  

Church records are the main source for identifying people prior to 1837 when civil registration began. It is also a main source after 1837 in conjunction with civil registration. The Church of England was created in 1536, after King Henry VIII severed all ties to the church in Rome, he directed that each local parish be responsible to register all marriages, baptisms and burials. The governing of each parish created a group of records known as [[Parish Chest Records|parish chest records]].&nbsp; The Church of England has dominated the religious scene in England; therefore it is likely that this is where you will find your ancestors. As time passes other religions began to organize and create records. Those that did not belong to the Church of England were referred to as [[England Church Records#Nonconformist_Church_Records|nonconformists or dissenters]]. The main influence of the nonconformist was in larger towns and cities.  

==== Burials  ====

A burial usually took place in the deceased’s parish a few days after the death. Pre-1813 burial records list the deceased’s name and burial date and sometimes mention the age, place of residence, cause of death, or occupation. The husband’s name is sometimes given on the wife’s burial entry. The father’s name may be on the record for a deceased child. After 1813 the forms called for the name, age, abode, burial date, and minister’s signature.  

=== Parish Chest Records  ===

Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox) known as the [[Parish Chest Records|"parish chest." ]]&nbsp; Because the Church of England was ordered by the Crown to keep records on all&nbsp;their congregants, any recorded business other than the christenings, marriages and burials of&nbsp;the parishioners&nbsp;was&nbsp;kept in this chest and are known as&nbsp;"parish chest records."&nbsp; Some of these records still exist from the 16th century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. <br>  

These include:  

You can find an explanation of this series in:  

== Archives  ==

=== Lambeth Palace Library  ===

Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library and record office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the principal repository of the documentary history of the Church of England.&nbsp;  

The Library does hold some records relevant to genealogy, but it is unlikely to be the best starting point for such research. The Library holds very few parish registers, however it does hold records relating to those marriages where a licence was issued under the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Library has written a research guide on the family history records it holds, and a guide to the marriage records in its collections:  

*[[England Cheshire Non-Conformist Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England, Cheshire Nonconformist Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  

*[[England Cornwall Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Cornwall Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  

*[[England, Norfolk, Church of England Archdeacon’s Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England, Norfolk, Church of England Archdeacon's Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>  

*[[England Norfolk Marriage Bonds (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Norfolk Marriage Bonds (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>  

*[[England Bristol Church of England Parish Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  

*[[England, Northumberland, Miscellaneous Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  

[[Category:England]]