FamilySearch Wiki

England Church Records: Difference between revisions

VisualWikitext
m (minor formatting edit)
(Corrected Place ID Number from FS Catalog.)
 
(302 intermediate revisions by 45 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[England|England]]&nbsp;|&nbsp;[[England Civil Registration|'''Civil Registration''']]&nbsp; |&nbsp; [[England Census|'''Census''']]&nbsp; |&nbsp; [[England Probate Records|'''Probate''']]&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> [[Image:Osmotherley3.jpg|thumb|300px]]  
{{CountrySidebar
|Country=England
|Name=England
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Records
|Records=Church Records
|Rating=Acceptable
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
| link2=
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[England Church Records|Church Records]]
}}
{| style="float:right; margin-right:200px"
|-
| style="padding-right:0px" |
|[[Image:Osmotherley3.jpg|thumb|300px|<center>Osmotherley3<center>]]
|}
For information about Nonconformist religious denominations and their registers, go to the [[England_Nonconformist_Church_Records| England Nonconformist Church Records]] page.


== Introduction ==
For information about records for non-Christian religions in England, go to the [[England Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.
==Introduction==


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 formed in 1536, after King Henry VIII severed all ties to the church in Rome. Each local parish was responsible to register all marriages, baptisms and burials starting in 1538. 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 keep their own 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 nonconformism was in larger towns and cities.
''See [[History of Parish Registers in England]]''


Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, many parishes did not start to keep registers until later and some early records have since been lost or destroyed. Beginning in 1598, copies of entries from many parishes were copied and sent annually to the bishop for the diocese for that area and these copies are known as Bishop’s Transcripts or BTs. For Lincolnshire and Norfolk, many Bishop's transcripts began as early as 1561. Archdeacon transcripts exist for Kent as well;&nbsp;some as early as 1560.  
Church records are the main source for genealogy prior to 1837 when [[England Civil Registration|civil registration]] began. It is also a useful source after 1837 in conjunction with civil registration.  


To view the most comprehensive and the largest database available on the Internet--for England church register transcripts, visit [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1&countryId=1986340 FamilySearch.org]. <br>  
Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, many parishes did not start to keep registers until later and some early records have since been lost or destroyed. Beginning in 1598, copies of entries from many parishes were copied and sent annually to the bishop for the diocese of that area and these copies are known as Bishop’s Transcripts or BTs. <br>  


'''Parish. '''Each local parish keeps records. A ''parish'' is the jurisdictional unit that governs church affairs within its boundaries. Small villages often do not have their own parishes but are part of a parish headquartered in another town. A parish may have one or more ''chapelries,'' dependent district churches or chapels of ease, which often keep their own records.  
'''Parish. ''' A ''parish'' is the jurisdictional unit that governs church affairs within its boundaries. Each local parish kept registers of baptisms/christenings, marriages and burials and other records. Small villages often do not have their own parishes but nevertheless have a chapel of ease built and ''are part of a parish headquartered in another town''. A parish may consist of one or more ''chapelries,'' dependent district churches or chapels of ease (see below).  


'''Chapelry.''' A small parochial division of a large, populated parish. Most chapels or chapelries kept their own registers of baptisms and burials, and where authorization was granted, marriages were performed and&nbsp;registers&nbsp;kept. Occasional parishes throughout England, but especially most&nbsp;of&nbsp;Lancashire's&nbsp;60-plus parishes, and many&nbsp;in&nbsp;Cheshire were&nbsp;comprised of numerous chapelries, i.e.&nbsp;Parish of Prestbury, Cheshire--many chapels&nbsp;of ancient origin and with 24 chapels overall by 1850 (see Lewis' [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=445 ''Topographical Dictionary of England'']&nbsp;for pre-1848&nbsp;and, for post-1848&nbsp;chapelries--see the [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales''] for even more). To view all those chapelries attached to and lying within Lancashire's largest parishes, see the "[[Comprehensive Lists of Lancashire's Chapelries in Its Largest Cities and Township Parishes]]" under the names of each of its large parishes, here.  
'''Chapelry.''' A small parochial division of a large, populated parish. Most chapels or chapelries kept their own registers of baptisms and burials, and where authorization to marry was granted, marriage registers. Large cities,  market town parishes and occasional other parishes--in especially Lancashire's original 75 ancient parishes, and many in Cheshire, Greater London, and Yorkshire counties consisted of numerous chapelries. For example, England's largest parish of Manchester (the Cathedral), was not the only church standing within its own boundary. Because of the Industrial Revolution and subsequent massive migration into its large boundary, by 1900 Manchester comprised well [[A Comprehensive List of All Pre-1851 Manchester Parishes and Chapelries|<u>over ''150 attached chapels''</u>]], many of ancient origin.


'''Diocese.''' Many parishes are grouped together under the jurisdiction of a bishop. A bishop heads a diocese. Some dioceses include one or more archdeaconries administered by an archdeacon. These may be divided into ''rural deaneries,'' headed by a rural dean. Each deanery consists of several parishes.  
'''Diocese.''' Many parishes are grouped together under the jurisdiction of a bishop. A bishop heads a diocese. Some dioceses include one or more archdeaconries administered by an archdeacon. These may be divided into ''rural deaneries,'' headed by a rural dean. Each deanery consists of several parishes.  


== Church of England Records  ==
'''Calendar changes:''' The Gregorian calendar, the one commonly used today, is a correction of the Julian calendar, which, because of miscalculated leap years, was 11 days behind the solar year by 1752. England began using the new calendar in 1752. Eleven days were omitted to bring the calendar in line with the solar year. The day after Wednesday, 2 September 1752, became Thursday, 14 September 1752. Also at that time, the first day of the year changed to 1 January. Before 1752, the first day of the year was 25 March. Pre-1752 dates may be confusing. For example, the day after 24 March 1565 was 25 March 1566. Dates between 1 January and 24 March are often recorded using a technique called double dating. An example of double dating is 16 February 1696/7. For more information, see ''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/261403?availability=Family%20History%20Library Handbook of Dates for Students of English History]'', by C. R. Cheney.


As this was the state church, one should begin a search of church records in those of the Church of England.
==Religions of England==


=== Parish Registers  ===
===Non-Conformist Churches===
* Various '''Non-Conformist''' groups, included all '''Methodists, Baptist''' and '''Presbyterian''' spin-off denominations, as well the '''Independents''', '''Roman Catholic''', and '''Society of Friends''' ('''Quakers'''). They slowly grew in legal standing and in numbers from about 1600 onwards, experiencing at first much persecution and discrimination.


{{main|Church of England Parish Registers}}&nbsp;
===Roman Catholic Church===
[[File:English and Welsh Catholic Dioceses Map.png|200px|thumb|right|<center>Catholic Dioceses of England and Wales</center>]]
*'''Roman Catholics''' remained present in England after the split between Rome and the Church of England in aboout 1536. They were heavily persecuted and most records became extant after laws of 1778, 1791 and 1829 lifted discrimination against them.
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>


The registers kept by the parish record christenings, marriages, and burials performed in that parish. The parish was also used by the government for taking care of the poor, the physical well-being of the parish, law enforcement, taxation and military conscription during the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. These functions required that the parish keep other records beside the registers. These other records are often called ''parish chest records'' (see the subheading Parish Chest Records in this article).  
===Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints===
*'''Mormon'''s, '''LDS''' or, '''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''' Church records include mostly membership records, i.e. baptisms, and some marriages and deaths, etc.,(about 51,000 attending members by 1851) begin by July, 1837. A ''few'' are available online through the 1) online [https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/ Church History Library Catalog]: just type name of England county ''and'' the word "branch". Most, if not, all records are available to access by in-person visit to the Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Note: The records have been digitised for internal purposes and access. All locality records of Membership are currently being indexed (as of 2022). 2) A slight majority of records are also available in the FamilySearch Library's microfilm collections; see the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch.org online catalog]. Search under the name of the township/parish name and then click "Record of Members". These records may only be searched by in-person visitors at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, UT.


Earlier registers often contained christenings, marriages, and burials in one book, called a general register. Primarily due to concern over the number of&nbsp;clandestine (irregular or nonconformist) marriages occuring, Lord Hardwick's Act required that effective with 1754, all marriages had to be performed in the Church of England to be legal (exceptions for Jews and Quakers only).&nbsp; It also required a separate register for marriages be kept in every parish. In 1813 parishes were required to use pre-printed registers. From 1813, there were separate registers for christenings, marriages, and burials.  
''See [[Church of England Parish Registers]], [[England Nonconformist Church Records]].''


The amount of information recorded varies from parish to parish. Later records (particularly after 1812) are usually more complete than earlier ones. However, content often changed when a new minister began keeping the records.
==Accessing England Church Records==
===Accessing Records ===
The first step is to find out which records survive for the parish you are researching. The following places are useful for this: 


Some pre-1733 parish registers are in Latin and even records in English may contain some Latin words. Local dialects may have affected the spelling of some family names or places.
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/churchdb GENUKI Church Database]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/mapp/ <nowiki>1851 Jurisdictions [parish boundary] maps</nowiki>] - an interactive county map of England showing parish and multiple other jurisdiction boundaries, i.e. civil registration district (shows parishes within it) 
*Each parish's page on this wiki
*[https://parishregister.co.uk/ Parish Registers - Family History before 1837]
*The parish's entry on the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]
*The county archive or record office


'''To Search Parish Registers:'''
Once you know what records exist, the next step is to access those records. The easiest way to find records for a particular ancestor is to use an index or transcript of the records. If these are not available then you'll need to browse the original records manually to find records of interest. Both can often be done online, though many websites required a subscription, or can be used for free only at public libraries and FamilySearch Centers (FSCs).


*The [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library catalog] lists many parish registers/bishop's transcripts that are available on microfilm.&nbsp; These can be sent to a [https://familysearch.org/#form=catalog family history center]. To search the catalog, use the Place-name search and search for a parish of interest.
The original records are usually stored at county record offices (Anglican) or The National Archives (non-conformist). A few may remain in custody of the parish, or at local archives or museums.
*The[https://familysearch.org/#form=catalog International Genealogical Index] (IGI) was the largest index of extracted Church of England parish registers, and included some non-Church of England (nonconformist) records. It is now included in the current version of FamilySearch at&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] website.&nbsp;.
*The current FamilySearch.org also has many additional&nbsp;parish records and more will be&nbsp;frequently added, such as for Warwickshire, Durham, and Cheshire counties.
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/search/index.htm Free Reg] is a wonderful site of indexed parish records, indexed by volunteers.
*There are several subscription Web sites&nbsp;that have parish records, especially&nbsp; at&nbsp;FindMyPast, Ancestry.co.uk, The Genealogist, and World Vital Records.&nbsp; These are free at [https://familysearch.org/#form=catalog family history centers] and some&nbsp;of these web sites are available at large public libraries.
*You can contact the county records office and they will ''sometimes'' do a quick look-up for you for free--providing you do not ask for too much. If you have more extensive research you want done, they will recommend a researcher who knows their records.


==== Christenings (Baptisms)  ====
===Major Resources===  


Children were usually christened within a few weeks of birth, though christenings of some older children or adults were recorded. The parish registers give at least the infant’s name and the christening (baptism) date. Additional information may include the father’s name and occupation, the mother’s first name, the child’s birth date and legitimacy, and the family’s place of residence. In larger cities the family’s street address is given.  
*The resources are prioritized from left to right, with the left column containing the most complete coverage for the county.
*Percentages in parentheses indicate the approximate percentage of the records included in that collection. Many collections will have a table or index showing the specific parishes and years they have records for.
*OPC is an abbreviation for Online Parish Clerks, a group of websites that transcribes parish records and make them freely available online
*FHS is an abbreviation for a county Family History Society and available products for purchase, i.e. CDs containing indexes to church baptisms or marriage records of the county.
*Many of these collections have the baptisms, marriages and burials on separate webpages. Links to the resources from all this table are always to the baptisms.
*A free account is required to access FamilySearch, and some of the images on their websites can only be viewed at FSCs or Affiliate Libraries. See the next section for information about records formerly part of the IGI.


The pre-printed forms introduced in 1813 called for the child’s christening date and given names, both parents’ given names, family surname, residence, father’s occupation, and minister’s signature. The birth date was sometimes added.  
Few, if any, of these collections will be 100% complete.  
{| class="wikitable"
| width="15%" bgcolor="#f9eb81" |
|signifies index only
|-
| width="15%" bgcolor="#90dded" |
|signifies index with images attached
|-
| width="15%" bgcolor="#ffcccc" |
|signifies images only
|}


It is worth mentioning that it was common practice in families to use the same Christian name over and over again until a child survived with it. This means that individuals need to try and capture all of the family members listed watching for deaths and that same name being given to the next child of the same sex.  
===== England County Church Records Availability - Indexes and/or Transcriptions =====
{| class="wikitable" width="75%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b4bec4" align="left" |'''County (pre-1974)'''
| width="15%" bgcolor="#b4bec4" align="left" |'''Best coverage'''
| width="15%" bgcolor="#b4bec4" align="left" |
| width="15%" bgcolor="#b4bec4" align="left" |
| width="15%" bgcolor="#b4bec4" align="left" |'''Less Coverage'''
| width="15%" bgcolor="#b4bec4" align="left" |'''Offline Records'''
|-
|Bedfordshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Bedfordshire&record FamilySearch] (98%)
|
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg]
|
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/Using_Our_Collections/Collection-Guides/Church-and-Religion/BedfordshireParishRegisterSeries.aspx Bedfordshire Parish Register Series] ($ or in person)
|-
|Berkshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Berkshire&record FamilySearch](70%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/berkshire-baptisms-index Findmypast] ($)
|
|
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[https://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/family-history/parish-registers-and-other-records Berkshire Record Office] ($ or in person)
|-
|Buckinghamshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Buckinghamshire&record FamilySearch] (50%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/buckinghamshire-baptism-index Findmypast] ($)
|
|
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/culture-and-leisure/centre-for-buckinghamshire-studies/help-with-research/family-history/ Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies] (in person)
|-
|Cambridgeshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.cfhs.org.uk Cambridgeshire FHS]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Cambridgeshire&record FamilySearch] (70%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/cambridgeshire-baptisms Findmypast] ($)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.cfhs.org.uk Cambridgeshire FHS] CDs ($). Can be accessed for free at the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927943&query=%2Bplace%3A%22England%2C%20Cambridgeshire%22&subjectsOpen=469171-50 FS Library] in Salt Lake City.
|-
|Cheshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Cheshire&record FamilySearch] (70%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/cheshire-diocese-of-chester-parish-baptisms-1538-1911 Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60496 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://cprdb.csc.liv.ac.uk/Live/v3.6/database.html Cheshire Parish Register Project]
|
|-
|Cornwall
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Cornwall&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www.opc-cornwall.org/ Cornwall OPC]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (85%, mostly marriages)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/cornwall-baptisms Findmypast] ($)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9848/ Ancestry.com] ($)
|
|-
|Cumberland
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Cumberland&record FamilySearch] (80%)
|
|
|
|
|-
|Derbyshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/derbyshire-baptisms Findmypast] (85%)  ($)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Derbyshire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61407 Ancestry.com] ($)
|
|
|-
|Devon
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/devon-baptisms Findmypast] ($)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Devon&record FamilySearch] (50%)
|
|
|
|-
|Dorset
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Dorset&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=2243 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/dorset-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.thegenealogist.com/subscription/ TheGenealogist]  ($)
|
|-
|Durham
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Durham&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/northumberland-baptisms Findmypast] ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (25%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/ Durham Records Online]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[http://www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/article/10573/Parish-registers Durham Record Office] (in person)
|-
|Essex
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Essex&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.thegenealogist.com/subscription/ TheGenealogist]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/essex-baptism-index-1538-1917 Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://essex-opc.org.uk/ Essex OPC]
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/ParishRegisters.aspx Essex Record Office] ($) or in person.
|-
|Gloucestershire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=4732 Ancestry.com] ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Gloucestershire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.thegenealogist.com/subscription/ TheGenealogist]  ($)
|
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www.bafhs.org.uk/ Bath and Avon FHS] ($) CDs
|-
|Hampshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Hampshire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.thegenealogist.com/subscription/ TheGenealogist]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/hampshire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/hals-collections/gro.htm Hampshire Record Office marriage index] (mostly complete)
|
|-
|Herefordshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Herefordshire&record  FamilySearch] (80%)
|
|
|
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/herefordshire-archive-records-centre/family-history-research HARC] (in person)
|-
|Hertfordshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Hertfordshire&record FamilySearch] (90%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/hertfordshire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
|
|
|
|-
|Huntingdonshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Huntingdonshire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/huntingdonshire-burials Findmypast]  ($) (burials)
|
|
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-culture/local-studies/huntingdonshire-collection Huntingdonshire Archives] (in person)
|-
|Kent
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Kent&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/kent-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1901 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www.kent-opc.org/ Kent OPC]
|
|-
|Lancashire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2575 Ancestry.com] ($)*
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Lancashire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/indexp.html Lancashire OPC]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-greater-manchester-baptisms-1571-1910 Findmypast] (Manchester only) ($)
|
|-
|Leicestershire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Leicestershire&record FamilySearch] (40%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/leicestershire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
|
|
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://lrfhs.org.uk/publications.html Leicestershire and Rutland FHS] (70%)
|-
|Lincolnshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Lincolnshire&record FamilySearch] (85%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (82%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-england-records-in-birth-marriage-and-death-parish-registers Findmypast]  ($)
|
|
|-
|London*
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,London&record FamilySearch] (90%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1558 Ancestry.com] ($)
|
|
|
|-
|Middlesex
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5908 Ancestry.com] (60%) ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/middlesex-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Middlesex&record FamilySearch]
|
|
|-
|Norfolk
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (75%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61045 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Norfolk&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/norfolk-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
|
|-
|Northamptonshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=9198 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (71%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.northants-fhs.org/database-searches/ Northamptonshire FHS]
|
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Northamptonshire&record FamilySearch]
|-
|Northumberland
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Northumberland&record FamilySearch] (85%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/northumberland-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (80%)
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |{{RecordSearch|2353070|England, Northumberland, Parish Registers, 1538-1950}}
|
|-
|Nottinghamshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (90%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61547 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/nottinghamshire-baptisms-index-1538-1917 Findmypast] ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Nottinghamshire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage/archives/visiting-archives/ Nottinghamshire Archives]
|-
|Oxfordshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61056 Ancestry.com] ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Oxfordshire&record FamilySearch] (85%)
|
|
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.ofhs.org.uk/CDsales.html#prs Oxfordshire FHS]
|-
|Rutland
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Rutland&record FamilySearch] (80%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/rutland-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
|
|
|
|-
|Shropshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/shropshire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Shropshire&record FamilySearch]
|
|
|
|-
|Somerset
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60856 Ancestry.com]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (85%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Somerset&record FamilySearch] (30%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/somerset-baptism-index Findmypast]  ($)
|
|-
|Staffordshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Staffordshire&record FamilySearch] (85%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/staffordshire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (85%)
|
|
|-
|Suffolk
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Suffolk&record FamilySearch] (65%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/suffolk-baptism-index-1538-1911 Findmypast] ($)
|
|
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/18-PARISH-REGS-CIVIL-REGS-30-05-2016.pdf Suffolk Record Office] (in person)
|-
|Surrey
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=4790 Ancestry.com] (70%) ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/surrey-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Surrey&record FamilySearch]
|
|
|-
|Sussex
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Sussex&record FamilySearch] (65%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www.sussex-opc.org/ Sussex OPC]
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.thegenealogist.com/subscription/ TheGenealogist]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/sussex-burials Findmypast]  ($) (burials)
|
|-
|Warwickshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=2416 Ancestry.com]  ($)*
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Warwickshire&record FamilySearch]
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/warwickshire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/opc/opc.html Warwickshire OPC]
|
|-
|Westmorland
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Westmorland FamilySearch] (70%)
|
|
|
| bgcolor="#ffcccc" |[https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/archivecentres/kac.asp Kendal Archival Center] (in person)
|-
|Wiltshire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/wiltshire-baptisms-index-1530-1917 Findmypast]  ($)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Wiltshire&record FamilySearch] (50%)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] (80%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61187 Ancestry.com]  ($)
|
|-
|Worcestershire
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Worcestershire&record FamilySearch] (75%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://www.thegenealogist.com/subscription/ TheGenealogist]  ($)
|
|
|
|-
|Yorkshire
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=2256 Ancestry.com]  ($) (West Yorkshire)
| bgcolor="#f9eb81" |[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-kingdom-and-ireland/england?region=England,Yorkshire&record FamilySearch] (75%)
| bgcolor="#90dded" |[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/yorkshire-baptisms Findmypast]  ($)
|
|
|}


What is in [[What information can I find in Church of England records?|England parish registers]]?
*Ancestry also has records for Birmingham and Manchester separate from the records for Warwickshire and Lancashire respectively.
*What is now London was formerly Middlesex, and portions of northeast Surrey, northwest Kent, and West Ham, in Essex.
*[[Media:A Hand List of Online England County-wide Indexes P Dunn Jul 2017 JMR (002).pdf|List of Online England and Wales Church Records]] - additional list of best websites for Church Records with number of records per website


==== Marriages  ====
===Non-Conformist Religions===
''For more background, see [[Religious non-conformity in England]].''<br>
'''General Collections'''<br>
*'''1588-1977''' {{RecordSearch|1666142|England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977}} at FamilySearch - [[England and Wales Nonconformist Record Indexes (RGA 4-8) ,1588-1977 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images [Note: Index was last updated Jan 4, 2013.]
*'''1777-1936''' {{RecordSearch|1719223|England, Bristol, Non-Conformist Church Records, 1777-1936}} at FamilySearch - [[England, Bristol, Non-Conformist Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images. Note: FamilySearch has images and indexes to nearly all National Archives UK RG registers.
*[https://bmdregisters.co.uk/ BMDRegisters.co.uk] - online Non-Conformist indexed baptisms, births, marriages and some burials ($)
*[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/catalog/?title=Non-Conformist&limitToCountry=1 Ancestry.co.uk] - search nearly 6 million Non-Conformist online records; search their "Catalog" and type "Non-Conformist" to search an additional nearly 2 million county databases ($)
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-non-conformist-births-and-baptisms England & Wales Non-Conformist Births and Baptisms] at Findmypast - ($), index
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-non-conformist-marriages England & Wales Non-Conformist Marriages] at Findmypast - ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-non-conformist-burials England & Wales Non-Conformist Burials] at Findmypast - ($), index


Parish registers often record only the marriage date and the names of the bride and groom. The records may also include the marital status and the parish of residence of both parties, the groom’s occupation, signatures of witnesses, and the minister’s name, especially after 1754.&nbsp; Starting in 1813, marital status and occupations may be given.&nbsp; Names of witnesses are also given.
'''By County'''<br>
*'''1613-1971''' {{RecordSearch|3584542|England, Essex Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1971}} at FamilySearch - [[England, Essex Non-Conformist Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images
*'''1840-1894''' {{RecordSearch|2806100|England, Northamptonshire, Non-conformist Records, 1840-1894}} at FamilySearch — [[England, Northamptonshire, Non-Conformist Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index


Starting 1 July 1837, the beginning of government registration, all parishes were required to use a new form. This form called for the bride and groom’s ages, residences, and occupations and the names and occupations of their fathers.  
'''Society of Friends - Quakers'''<br>
*'''1578-1841''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-society-of-friends-quaker-births-1578-1841 England & Wales, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Births 1578-1841] at Findmypast - ($), index and images
*'''1578-1841''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-society-of-friends-quaker-marriages-1578-1841 England & Wales, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Marriages 1578-1841] at Findmypast - ($), index and images
*'''1578-1841''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-society-of-friends-quaker-burials-1578-1841 England & Wales, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Burials 1578-1841] at Findmypast - ($), index and images
*'''1659''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/quaker-womens-petition-1659 Quaker Women's Petition, 1659] at Findmypast - index & images ($)
*'''1810-1918''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/quaker-deaths-1810-1918 Quaker Deaths 1810-1918] at Findmypast - index & images ($)


Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their twenties.  
'''Roman Catholic'''<br>
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-roman-catholic-parish-baptisms England Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms] at Findmypast - ($), index and images
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-roman-catholic-parish-marriages England Roman Catholic Parish Marriages] at Findmypast - ($), index and images
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-roman-catholic-parish-burials England Roman Catholic Parish Burials] at Findmypast - ($), index and images


You may find records that show a couple’s ''intent to marry'' in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married.  
===IGI===
Starting in 1973, FamilySearch created a major index called the [[International Genealogical Index|IGI]] (International Genealogical Index). Its purpose was two-fold. It contained both indexed/extracted church register name entries and user-submitted records.  


There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry.  
The records that were extracted from original source documents comprised the main portion of the original IGI, and with some areas receiving a majority of records included. No original images were included. The records were arranged in batches and sometimes it is useful to know what batches correspond to a particular place. [http://www.archersoftware.co.uk/igi/ Archersoftware], while a few years out of date, still provides batch information for the entire British Isles.  


'''By Banns. '''A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date. '''Note:''' Be aware that banns were only an intent to marry. The posting of banns doesn’t mean that a marriage took place after the reading of the banns.<br>
In approximately 2004, FamilySearch database engineers migrated all of the IGI extracted data (from parish registers such as baptisms and marriages) into its main search page currently found on [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ FamilySearch.org], and left the remaining individual or "user submitted" records in the IGI intact, with only 430 million submitted name entries, on the "Genealogies" page on FamilySearch's website. Like all compiled sources such as family trees, published genealogies, and transcription records, caution is required as some (IGI) information may be incorrect and mostly incomplete. The user submitted records come from all over the world, with only a small portion relating to England.  


If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of it, search the banns register (if available). The banns should have been recorded in both the bride’s and the groom’s parish. The marriage is usually recorded only in the parish where it took place. For banns registers, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under:
To do a general search of old (IGI) database of submitted entries see the following or use the general [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ '''FamilySearch'''] search engine on the main search page.


ENGLAND, [COUNTY NAME], [PARISH NAME] - CHURCH RECORDS
Here is a list of those stand-alone databases (each with its own individual search page). Most pages have not been updated in recent years. Use each with some caution:


'''By License.''' A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when:  
*'''1538-1975''' {{RecordSearch|1473014|England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975}} at FamilySearch - [[England Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, incomplete. Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9841 Ancestry.com], [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30042/england-births-christenings-1538-1975?s=218489221 MyHeritage] ($)
*'''1571-1977''' {{RecordSearch|1770884|Great Britain, Births and Baptisms, 1571-1977}} at FamilySearch - [[Great Britain, Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index births at sea, British subjects abroad, baptisms of nonconformist chapels in England, etc.; incomplete
*'''1538–1973''' {{RecordSearch|1473015|England Marriages, 1538–1973}} at FamilySearch - [[England Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, incomplete. Also at [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30043/england-marriages-1538%E2%80%931973?s=218489221 MyHeritage] ($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9852 Ancestry] ($), and [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-marriages-1538-1973 Findmypast] ($)
*'''1797-1988''' {{RecordSearch|1770891|Great Britain Marriages, 1797-1988}} at FamilySearch - [[Great Britain Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, incomplete . Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9881 Ancestry] ($)
*'''1538-1991''' {{RecordSearch|1473016|England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991}} at FamilySearch - [[England Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, incomplete. Also ar [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9840 Ancestry] ($), [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-deaths-and-burials-1538-1991 Findmypast] ($), and [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30044/england-deaths-burials-1538-1991?s=218489221 MyHeritage] ($)
*'''1778-1988''' {{RecordSearch|1770890|Great Britain Deaths and Burials, 1778-1988}} at FamilySearch - [[Great Britain Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, incomplete. Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9880 Ancestry] ($)
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9880 Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778-1988] ($), index


*Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns.
===FamilySearch Catalog===
*The bride and groom lived in different dioceses.
*A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists).


Marriage licenses could be granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, and archdeacons, or their surrogates within their respective jurisdictions. The licensing process created three types of documents, which may provide additional information to what the marriage record itself contains:  
The FamilySearch Library contains an extensive collection of English church records. The most common are:


'''Marriage bond.''' A written guarantee made by the groom and another person swearing to the legality of the planned marriage. The bond usually lists occupations.
*Parish registers from their beginning up to the nineteenth century or later
*Bishops’ transcripts from 1598 up to the mid- 19th century
*Transcripts of parish registers
*Parish chest records
*Registers of nonconformist churches to 1837 (sometimes later)


'''Marriage allegation.''' A statement filed by the couple in support of their license application. It records the couple’s names, ages, and parish of residence. The allegation sometimes lists where the marriage was to take place or gives a parent’s name or signature.  
To find church records from a particular place, use the FamilySearch Catalog. Look under "church records" and find the religion, year and record type of interest. If an index is available for the records, a magnifying glass symbol will appear. If a camera symbol also appears, the images are also accessible from any computer. A camera symbol with a key indicates the image is only accessible from a FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library. A microfilm symbol means that the images are not yet available online, and can only be viewed on microfilm at the FS Library in Salt Lake City.  


'''Marriage license.''' The actual document given to the couple to present to the minister. This document seldom survives but is sometimes found in family papers.  
===Regional and Local Websites===
Various genealogical societies and organizations have produced transcriptions of records. One prominent groups of sites are the Online Parish Clerks (OPCs). For each county the OPC site is run by volunteers to make church records freely available online. For example, see [http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/ Lancashire OPC]


If a couple married by license but the bond or allegation cannot be found in the records for the diocese, check the records of the Vicar General and the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, which had a higher level of jurisdiction.
For more detail about resources for a particular county or parish, see the wiki page for that area. For example, [[Bedfordshire Church Records]], or [[Ashbourne with Mapleton, Derbyshire Genealogy|Ashbourne]]


The current location of original marriage license documents is given in:  
Other useful sites are [http://dustydocs.com/ DustyDocs] and [https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/parish UKBMD], both providing information about websites specific to the area or parish.


Gibson, J. S. W. ''Bishops’ Transcripts and Marriage Licences, Bonds and Allegations''. Fourth Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1997. (FHL book {{FHL|682076|title-id|disp=942 K23b 1997}}.)
===Extracted Records===
Similiar to the IGI, other individuals and organisations made transcriptions of a small subset of England church records to aid researchers. While mostly superseded by the large databases of the major websites, they may still be useful in some circumstances.  


Many license records are in county record offices. The Family History Library also has a good collection, usually listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under:<br>
*[https://ukga.org/cgi-bin/search.cgi?action=loadDB&DB=8 Phillimore Marriages Indexing Project, 1538 - 1837], index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/england-boyds-marriage-indexes-1538-1850 England, Boyd's Marriage Indexes, 1538-1850] ($), index
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5967 England, Pallot's Marriage Index, 1780 - 1837] ($), index
*[http://sog.archiveps.co.uk/bin/index.php Society of Genealogists] ($) have many transcriptions of church records, members only


ENGLAND, [COUNTY NAME] - CHURCH RECORDS
===Military, Overseas and Maritime Records===


{{For|more about marriage allegations, bonds, and licenses for England and Wales|Marriage Allegations, Bonds and Licences in England and Wales}}
*'''1787-1933''' {{RecordSearch|1967749|United Kingdom, Maritime Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1787-1933}} at FamilySearch - [[United Kingdom, Maritime Births, Marriages, and Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-nationals-armed-forces-births-1761-2005 British Nationals Armed Forces Births 1761-2005] ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-births-and-baptisms British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms] ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-nationals-armed-forces-marriages-1796-2005 British Nationals Armed Forces Marriages 1796-2005] ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-royal-marines-marriage-registers-1813-1920 British Royal Marines, Marriage Registers 1813-1920] ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-banns-and-marriages British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages] ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-nationals-armed-forces-deaths-1796-2005 British Nationals Armed Forces Deaths 1796-2005] ($), index
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-deaths-and-burials British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials] ($), index


==== Burials  ====
===Other Sites===


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.  
*[http://www.google.com/ www.google.com]- Just try Googling the name of the ‘county’ or ‘parish’ + ‘parish registers.’ I.e. ‘Worcestershire parish registers’ or ‘Churchill parish registers.’
*[http://www.marriage-locator.co.uk/ Marriage Locator]: Helps to locate the church where the marriage took place
*[http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/Registers Parish Registers and Phillimore Marriage records] hundreds of parish registers and other BMD transcripts in their collection, and they are working to put them all online.
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ The National Archives] - provides a marvelous view into county record office and numerous other catalogs and inventories to their genealogical records
*[http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/index.html Mailing Lists at Rootsweb.com]


Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths.  
===Offline Indexes===
Indexes to church records have been published by family history societies in England. Read more in the [[England Societies|Societies]] article.


=== Bishop's Transcripts<br>  ===
*Some county record offices hold in-house and sometimes, online indexes to their own records holdings.
*Many family history societies have published in booklet-form, or on microfiche, or on CD-ROM numerous countywide or parish church records transcriptions and indexes.


'''Bishop’s Transcripts (BT's)'''. Beginning in 1598 each parish was supposed to send a copy of its registers to the bishop of its diocese. Most parishes complied. Bishop's transcripts should be an exact copy of the parish register but they often are not.&nbsp; This may be because:  
Privately held marriage indexes for most counties are available by correspondence at either of the following two sources. Many indexes are listed with the addresses of where to write in:  


*The minister was saving time and space&nbsp;by abreviating entries when copying them.  
*Humphery-Smith, Cecil R., ''[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8830/?geo_a=r&geo_s=uk&geo_t=us&geo_v=2.0.0&o_iid=62817&o_lid=62817&o_sch=Web+Property The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers]''. Second Edition. Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore &amp; Company, 1995. (FS Library book {{FSC|752598|title-id|disp=942 E7pa 1995}}.)
*The minister may have added ''more'' detail to an entry when he copied it into the BTs.  
*Gibson, Jeremy, and Elizabeth Hampson, Editors. ''Marriage and Census Indexes for Family Historians''. Seventh Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1998. (FS Library book {{FSC|733642|title-id|disp=942 D27gjh}}.)
*BT's were on separate pieces of parchment and some may have been lost&nbsp;over the years.  
*Some marriage indexes are on film at the FamilySearch Library. To find them, use the Place-name search of the FamilySearch Catalogue and search for a county of interest and the topic of CHURCH RECORDS - INDEXES.
*BT's may survive where the parish registers&nbsp;do not.
*Entries may have been accidently skipped or mis-transcribed when the record was copied for the BT's.


The current location of original bishop’s transcripts is given in:  
==Protestation Returns==
The Protestation Returns of 1641–1642 are lists of English males over the age of 18 who took, or did not take, an oath of allegiance "to live and die for the true Protestant religion, the liberties and rights of subjects and the privilege of Parliaments." These lists were usually compiled by parish, or township, within hundred, or wapentake.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Protestation Returns of 1641–1642" in ''https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestation_Returns_of_1641%E2%80%931642'' accessed 18 Mar 2024</ref>


Gibson, J. S. W. ''Bishops’'' ''Transcripts and Marriage Licences, Bonds and Allegations.'' Fourth Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1997. (FHL book {{FHL|682076|title-id|disp=942 K23b 1997}}.)
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/protestation-returns-1641-1642 Protestation Returns of 1641–1642]


Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under:
==Archives==


England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records<br>  
[[Image:Lambeth Palace.jpg|thumb|right|<center>Lambeth Palace<center>]]


Most films contain all the years for one parish on one film. However, some are arranged by deanery and year. Those arranged by year and then by deanery are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under:
===County Record Offices===
Most of the Church of England parish registers and bishop's transcript copies are deposited in the county record offices throughout the country. Additionally, while a majority of the nonconformist church registers have been deposited at The National Archives, some of these church registers have been deposited in the county records offices.


England, [county name] - Church records  
These record offices are open to the public and all have a website by which you can learn more about their services, the records and their availability, and online offerings.


For Lincolnshire, many Bishop's transcripts begin as early as 1561.  
Besides county record offices, church records may also be deposited at the local parish, libraries, museums, or other repositories.


Archdeacon transcripts exist for many Kent County parishes--some as early as 1560.
===Lambeth Palace Library===


<br>
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. 


=== Parish Chest Records  ===
[[Image:Lambeth Palace Great Hall.jpg|thumb|right|300x156px|<center>Lambeth Palace Great Hall<center>]]


[[Image:The Parish Chest.jpg|thumb|right|250px]] Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox) known as the [[Parish Chest Records|"parish chest"]]. Because the Church of England was ordered by the Crown to keep records on all their congregants, any recorded business other than the christenings, marriages and burials of the parishioners was kept in this chest and are known as "parish chest records." Some of these records still exist from the 16th century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century.
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: 


These records may include information regarding the care of the poor, settlement examinations, removal orders, apprenticeship indentures, militia certificates and workhouse accounts. And many give detailed information on individuals and families!
For further information on the Library’s collections and services, please see its website: [http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/ Lambeth Palace Library.org]   


{{details3|[[England and Wales Poor Law Records Pre-1834]] and [[England and Wales Poor Law Records 1834-1948]]|poor law records}}
==Parish Boundaries==


=== Watch a Video Presentation on Church Records ===
To find an ancestor in church records, you should know their religion and the parish where they lived. The Place Search on the FamilySearch Catalog usually uses the parish names as given in ''The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales.'' See [[England Gazetteers | England Gazetteers]] for this source and other help in finding a parish. Also see the [https://www.familysearch.org/mapp/ England & Wales Jurisdictions 1851] map to locate the parish.  Be aware that local residents sometimes referred to their parish by the name of the parish patron saint, rather than by the location of the parish. In cities where there is more than one parish, the FamilySearch Catalog uses the patron saint's name with the name of the city to identify records of different parishes.


To select from a group of short videos about Church records [https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/results.html?q=Church%20records%2Fvideo click here]. <br>
Parish maps can help you determine which parish to search. Maps will reveal neighboring parishes to search if your ancestor is not listed in the parish where you expected him or her to be. See [[England Maps|England Maps]] for more information.


== Indexes to Church Records ==
==Types of Records==
===Baptisms===
Baptism records usually contain:


Indexes to church records can save you time because they usually cover a broad geographical area and a broad time period.  
*Child's given name
*Father's given name, and from 1813 his occupation and residence/address
*Mother's name, and (rarely) her maiden surname
*Baptism date, and occasionally birth date, which can sometimes be several years before the baptism.


Indexes to church records have been published by family history societies in England. Read more in the [[England Societies|Societies]] article.  
It is worth mentioning that it was common practice in families to use the same Christian name over and over again until a child survived with it. This means that individuals need to try and capture all of the family members listed watching for deaths and that same name being given to the next child of the same sex.


To see what indexes to parish registers are available at the Family History Library, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under a county of interest and the topic of&nbsp;Church Records - Indexes.&nbsp; See also [[England Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
<gallery perrow="1" heights="120px" widths="160px" caption="Baptism Record Example">
File:England Church of England Parish Register Christening.jpg|Christening Register 
</gallery>


=== Online Indexes  ===
===Marriages===
Typically, the English married in their 20's. You may find records that show a couple’s “intent to marry” in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. Church of England parish register marriage records usually contain:


Several Internet web sites also have indexes to church records:
*Marriage date 
*Name of the bride and groom


*[https://www.familysearch.org/ <font color="#800080">www.familysearch.org</font>] - records span billions of names across hundreds of collections—including birth, marriage, death, probate, land, military, IGI extracted, and more.
After 1753, the records are more likely to show: 
*[http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ <font color="#800080">Ancestry.co.uk</font>] - vast entries for Greater London and other regions of England - about 10 million entries.&nbsp; Includes Pallot's marriage index.
*[http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/ <font color="#0066cc">BMDRegister.co.uk</font>] - about 10 million entries
*[http://www.findmypast.co.uk/home.jsp FindMyPast.co.uk] - nearly 70&nbsp;million entries
*[http://www.fhlfavorites.info/Links/British/Start_%20Page/British_Frame_Page.htm <font color="#0066cc">FHLFavorites.com</font>]- links to millions of entries from many&nbsp;areas of England; many are at no cost
*[http://forest-of-dean.net/ <font color="#0066cc">forest-of-dean.net</font>]&nbsp;- indexed and transcribed records for the Forest of Dean area in Gloucerstershire
*[http://freereg.rootsweb.com/ <font color="#0066cc">FreeReg.org.uk</font>]&nbsp; -&nbsp; about 10 million entries
*[http://www.onlineparishclerks.org.uk/ <font color="#0066cc">OnlineParishClerks.org.uk</font>] - millions(?) of entries
*[http://www.marriage-locator.co.uk/ Marriage Locator]: Helps to locate the church where the marriage took place
*[http://www.origins.net/ <font color="#0066cc">OriginsNetwork.com</font>] - approximately 10 million marriages and other events
*[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/nameindex/index.php?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegenealogist.co.uk%2Fuser%2Fsubscriptions.php TheGenealogist.co.uk] - has nonconformist as well as parish register entries; over&nbsp;12 million&nbsp;
*[http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/ UKBMD.org.uk] - millions of entries throughout many (but not all) counties of England
*&nbsp;[http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/Registers www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/Registers]&nbsp;&nbsp; hundreds of parish registers and other BMD transcripts in&nbsp;their collection, and they are working to put them all online.


In additon, thousands of English church records are available on microfilm or microfiche through the Family History Library system.
*Residence of the bride and groom 
*Marital status of bride and groom 
*May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.
*After 1753, a form was used for parish registers
*After 1753, whether marriage was by banns or license
*After 1753, the full names of usually two witnesses 
*After 1753, the minister's name


*[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Catalog at FamilySearch.org] -
After 30 June 1837, marriage records also include:


=== Online County Indexes  ===
*Age of the bride and groom 
*Name and occupation of fathers of bride and groom 


*[http://www.fhlfavorites.info/Links/British/Start_%20Page/British_Frame_Page.htm fhlfavorites.com] - a categorized list of websites. Look under the county of interest and the subject "Church Records" to see a list of church records online for that county.
There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry, see [[Marriage Allegations, Bonds and Licences in England and Wales]]
*Google the following search terms:&nbsp; 1) "Index",&nbsp;2)&nbsp;"Church records", or "baptism", or "marriage", or "burial" and 3) name of place, e.g. "Westminster"
*[http://www.FindMyPast.co.uk FindMyPast] has over 70 million entries from parish registers and Bishop's transcripts
*[http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/index.php UKBMD.org.uk] - has numerous online databases and indexes
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/ Access to Archives (A2A)] - provides a marvelous view into county record office and numerous other catalogs and inventories to their genealogical records
*[[England|England Wiki article]] - search under each county of interest to find valuable links and ideas for enhancing your research; the "Church records" and "Parish" sections are currently being constructed
*[http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/index.html Mailing Lists at Rootsweb.com]
*Genealogical networking web sites (a great way to find and work cooperatively with distant relatives who are working on in-common family lines), include:


#[http://www.genesreunited.com Genesreunited.com]
#By Banns. A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays, unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date.
#[http://www.myheritage.com MyHeritage.com]
#By License. A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when:
#[http://www.lostcousins.com LostCousins.com]
#*Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns.
#[http://www.rootsuk.com RootsUK.com]
#*The bride and groom lived in different dioceses.
#*A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists).


=== Indexes in the United Kingdom  ===
<gallery perrow="3" heights="120px" widths="160px" caption="Marriage Record Examples">
File:England Church of England Parish Register Marriage Before 1754.jpg|Marriage before 1754 and Banns after 1754
File:England Church of England Parish Register Marriage 1747 to 1837.jpg|1754-1837 Marriage Record
File:England Church of England Parish Register Marriage after 1837.jpg|Marriage after 1837
</gallery>


*Society of Genealogists:&nbsp;For about a hundred years this marvelous society has dedicatedly indexed and transcribed parish and church registers (and many other types of records) throughout England and Wales. Of the 12,800-plus parishes in England, they hold transcriptions to nearly&nbsp;11,000 parishes!
===Burials===
*Some county record offices hold in-house and sometimes, online indexes to their own records holdings. Contact via e-mail, mail, telephone or fax.
A burial usually took place in the deceased’s parish a few days after the death. Church of England parish register burial records usually contain:
*Many family history societies have published in booklet-form, or on microfiche, or on CD-ROM numerous countywide or parish church records transcriptions and indexes.


Privately held marriage indexes for most counties are available by correspondence at either of the following two sources. Many indexes are listed with the addresses of where to write in:
*Burial date 
*Name of the deceased. 
*If the deceased is a child, the father’s name might be given. 
*If the deceased is a married woman, the husband’s name might be given
*If the deceased is a widow, that may be noted. 
*May give the sex of the deceased


*Humphery-Smith, Cecil R., ''The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers''. Second Edition. Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore &amp;amp; Company, 1995. (FHL book {{FHL|752598|title-id|disp=942 E7pa 1995}}.)
The forms introduced in 1813 also called for:
*Gibson, Jeremy, and Elizabeth Hampson, Editors. ''Marriage and Census Indexes for Family Historians''. Seventh Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1998. (FHL book {{FHL|733642|title-id|disp=942 D27gjh}}.)
*Some marriage indexes are on film at the Family History Library. To find them, use the Place-name search of the Family History Library Catalogue and search for a county of interest and the topic of CHURCH RECORDS - INDEXES.


=== Indexes at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City  ===
*Age of the deceased
*Residence of the deceased 
*Occupation of the deceased
*Minister's signature


*[https://familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library Catalog] (FHLC):
Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened, including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths.


#Search&nbsp;for a&nbsp;county name; click on the topics of both "Church records" and "Church records - Indexes" to find countywide indexes. [Note: The Family History Deparment at FamilySearch.org&nbsp;has a comprehensive&nbsp;"Acquisitions" program for obtaining transcriptions/indexes of church records for all periods of time.]
<gallery perrow="1" heights="120px" widths="160px" caption="Burial Record Example">
#Search&nbsp;for a&nbsp;parish name for "Church records - Indexes" for possible "hits" [Many indexes can be found via Batch number obtained from IGI entries at FamilySearch.org.]
File:England Church of England Parish Register Burial.jpg|Burial Register
</gallery>


==== Indexes to Marriages  ====
===Bishop's Transcripts===
Beginning in 1598, ministers were required to send copies of their registers to an archdeacon or bishop annually. These copies are referred to as bishops’ transcripts, or sometimes archdeacon transcripts. As a result, two copies of many parish registers exist from 1598 to about the mid-1800s. After civil registration began in 1837, the value of keeping bishops’ transcripts diminished, so by 1870 most parishes had stopped making them.


These include:  
Bishop's transcripts should be an exact copy of the parish register but they often are not.  This may be because:  


*[[Image:All Saints Church Gresham, Norfolk.jpg|thumb|right|247x191px|All Saints Church Gresham, Norfolk.jpg]]Boyd, Percival. ''Boyd’s Marriage Index''. Bound typescript. N.p., n.d. This work is an index to marriages in 4,375 parishes throughout England. It is available at the Family History Library on microfilm, on microfiche, and in paper form. Look in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalogue for library call numbers.
*The minister was saving time and space by abbreviating entries when copying them.
 
*The minister may have added ''more'' detail to an entry when he copied it into the BTs.
You can find an explanation of this series in:
*BT's were on separate pieces of parchment and some may have been lost over the years.
 
*BT's may survive where the parish registers do not.
*Wells, Claire T. Wells, comp. ''A Key to the Parishes Included in Boyd’s Marriage Index''. Second Edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1988. (FHL book {{FHL|453735|title-id|disp=942 K22b 1988}}; fiche {{FHL|453735|title-id|disp=6035667}}.)
*Entries may have been accidently skipped or mis-transcribed when the record was copied for the BT's.
 
A list of parishes is also given in:
 
*''A List of Parishes in Boyd’s Marriage Index''. London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1994. (FHL book {{FHL|1026517|title-id|disp=942 K22l 1994}}.)
 
Some county record offices and other repositories have indexes to church records, some of which are on film at the Family History Library. Read the [[England Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]] article for additional information, including addresses.
 
<br>
 
=== Clergy  ===
 
If your ancestor was a clergy member in the Church of England you may find them listed in The "[http://ccedb.cch.kcl.ac.uk/index.html Clergy of the Church of England Database]." This is being funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.  
 
== Archives  ==
 
[[Image:Lambeth Palace.jpg|thumb|right|Lambeth Palace.jpg]]
 
=== Lambeth Palace Library  ===
 
Lambeth Palace, located in South London, is the seat of the Holy See and primate of the Church of England. It is the dwelling (palace) residence of The Most Rev and Rt Hon The Lord, Archbishop of Canterbury, and also found on its premises, the Church of England's archival collections and holdings.
 
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;
 
[[Image:Lambeth Palace Great Hall.jpg|thumb|right|300x156px|Lambeth Palace Great Hall.jpg]]
 
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:
 
<br>
 
[http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/familyhistory Lambeth Palace Library.org] Family History [http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/marriagerecords Lambeth Palace Library.org] Marriage records
 
For further information on the Library’s collections and services, please see its website: [http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/ Lambeth Palace Library.org]
 
<br>
 
=== County Record Offices  ===
 
Most of the Church of England parish registers and Bishop's transcript copies of same, are deposited in the county record offices throughout the country. Additionally, while a majority of the nonconformist church registers have been deposited at The National Archives, some of these church registers have been deposited in the county records offices.
 
These record offices are open to the public and all have a web site by which you can learn more about their services, the records and their availability, and online offerings.  


== Locating Church Records of England  ==
Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the FamilySearch Library, listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalogue under:


{{main|Locating Church Records of England}}
England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records <br>


== Nonconformist Church Records  ==
Most films contain all the years for one parish on one film. However, some are arranged by deanery and year. Those arranged by year and then by deanery are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalogue under:


A nonconformist church is any denomination not conforming to the Church of England, including Roman Catholics, and Quakers. For information on the different nonconformist denominations and their records, read [[England Nonconformist Church Records]].
England, [county name] - Church records


== Jews  ==
===Parish Chest Records===


Most synagogues have retained their own records.  
[[Image:The Parish Chest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|<center>The Parish Chest<center>]] Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox) known as the parish chest. Because the Church of England was ordered by the Crown to keep records on all their congregants, any recorded business other than the christenings, marriages and burials of the parishioners was kept in this chest and are known as "parish chest records." Some of these records still exist from the 16th century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. Many parish chest records are available at county record offices.  


For historical information, contact:  
These records may include:


*[http://www.jhse.org/ Jewish Historical Society of England]&nbsp;<br>33 Seymour Place&nbsp;<br>London W1H 5AP&nbsp;England
*Vestry (parish presiding council) minutes which can mention appointments of parish officers, parish newcomers, etc.
*Poor law records containing information regarding the care of the poor including payments made to the poor, bastardy bonds, taxes assessed to meet welfare needs, and possibly include the names of the "Overseers of the Poor" along with minutes, accounts, rates, and workhouse accounts.


In the&nbsp;mid-20th century, a Jewish genealogist named Isobel Mordy collected and indexed a group of English Jewish records.&nbsp;Her collection&nbsp;is now available on microfilm at the {{FHL|329168|title-id|disp=Family History Library}}.
::{{details3|[[England and Wales Poor Law Records Pre-1834]] and [[England and Wales Poor Law Records 1834-1948]]|poor law records}}


Todd Knowles has taken and built upon the Mordy collection and created an on-going&nbsp;database known as the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&fed=false&collectionId=&catSearchType=title&searchCriteria=Knowles+Collection&placeName=&author_givenName=&author_surname= Knowles Collection] which is searchable online at <span style="text-decoration: underline">&nbsp; &nbsp; </span>[https://www.familysearch.org/ familysearch.org].  
*Churchwardens who were responsible to the bishop or magistrate to present any wrongdoings at quarter sessions, including failure to provide for the poor, failure to attend church, drunkenness, or other undesirable behaviour.
*Settlement and removal records which relate to a person's legal place of settlement as determined by a set of rules. These records include responsibility for the care of old-age family members; as well as, the orders directing the constable to remove (transport) the family back to the parish where their petition for welfare settlement originated.


For more information, see:
::Read more in the [[Settlement_Examinations_in_England_and_Wales|Settlement and Removal Records]] article.


*Gandy, Michael. ''My Ancestor Was Jewish: How Can I Find Out More About Him?'' London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1982. (FHL book {{FHL|69465|title-id|disp=929.1089924 G153}}.)
*Apprenticeship records often list the apprentice’s father, his master, the length of the apprenticeship, and the occupation. A child’s father often arranged the apprenticeship, but the parish "put out" many pauper children, since it was cheaper to pay for an apprenticeship than to raise a child. The child’s name may also be in vestry minutes when the vestry decided to put the child out as an apprentice. You may also find apprenticeships in other sources.
*[http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/jewish/tracingjewishroots/tracingjewishroots.htm#getting_started Tracing Jewish Roots]


<br>
::Read more in the  [[England Occupations|Occupations]]  article.


== Calendar Changes  ==
*Militia certificates
*Detailed information on individuals and families


The Gregorian calendar, the one commonly used today, is a correction of the Julian calendar, which, because of miscalculated leap years, was 11 days behind the solar year by 1752.
<br>
For further information on parish chest material, see:


England began using the new calendar in 1752. Eleven days were omitted to bring the calendar in line with the solar year. The day after Wednesday, 2 September 1752, became Thursday, 14 September 1752.  
*The Parish Chest lesson series [https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/the-parish-chest-part-1 Part 1], [https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/the-parish-chest-part-2 Part 2], [https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/the-parish-chest-part-3 Part 3]


Also at that time, the first day of the year changed to 1 January. Before 1752, the first day of the year was 25 March.  
===Rectors and Vicars===
List of rectors, vicars, canons, deans, archdeacons, bishops, and others roles, with their years and locations where they served, extracted from alumni records of Oxford and Cambridge Universities and other sources: https://www.ourfamtree.org/records/religion.php


Pre-1752 dates may be confusing. For example, the day after 24 March 1565 was 25 March 1566. Dates between 1 January and 24 March are often recorded using a technique called double dating. An example of double dating is 16 February 1696/7.


For more information, see ''[https://www.familysearch.org/s/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog.familysearch.org%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1193436&hash=HloWXpZgU9zB10k5M56iYku8TUc%253D Handbook of Dates for Students of English History]'', by C. R. Cheney.
==Search Strategies and Tips==


== Related Web Pages  ==
As you search church records, use the following strategies:


*[http://www.genealogylinks.net/marriages/uk/england/index.html Genealogy Llinks.net] &nbsp;
*Search both Church of England parish registers and bishops’ transcripts, as either may contain entries missing from the other.
*[http://www.coraweb.com.au/ukbdm.htm Coraweb.com] &nbsp;
*Note all entries, including burials, in the parish registers for the surname of interest unless the name is very common.
*[http://www.origins.net/BOWelcome.aspx Origins.net]
*Note gaps or missing pages in the record. This may suggest that you should search alternative records for that time period.
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ Freereg.org]<br>
*If the church records do not contain enough information, search for hints (residence, occupation, and so on) that suggest other records to search.
*If you find little or no mention of your family in Church of England parish records, search neighboring parishes and nonconformist records. However before 1837 non-Anglicans were supposed to marry in the Church of England, the only exception being Jews and Quakers.
*If a marriage record indicates the marriage was by license, it can be very worthwhile to find the marriage license.
*Remember that baptism was not always a few days after birth, and could occur when the child was several years old. When siblings are baptized together, this does not mean they were born together.
*Older records may use handwriting styles that are difficult to read, and therefore take a lot of practice and learning to successfully decipher.
*Naming traditions were often used to name children. The most common and best followed is that the oldest son is named after the father's father.
*The fathers of illegitimate children are often unknown, yet alone recorded.
*Women will be referred to by their married surnames. Only a small proportion of baptism records will record the mother's maiden name.
*It was traditional to marry in the residence of the bride. However Banns still had to be posted in every parish both parties had resided in recently.


Also, there is a [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/mainpage.htm Norfolk Churches] site that is worthwhile looking at to see photos, etc.
==Online Learning==
'''FamilySearch Help Center Online Lessons:'''


'''Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:'''<br>
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/england-parish-chest-records '''England Parish Chest Records''']
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/england-nonconformist-church-records-part-1 '''England Nonconformist Church Records'''] - Parts 1 and 2
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/england-nonconformist-church-records-introduction '''England Nonconformist Church Records''']
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/tracing-non-church-of-england-ancestry '''Tracing Non-Church of England Ancestry''']


*[[England Births and Christenings (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
==Related Web Pages==
*[[England Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>


*[[England Bristol Church of England Parish Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts|England Bristol Church of England Parish Registers and Bishios' Transcripts (FamilySearch HIstorical Records_]]  
*[http://www.genealogylinks.net/marriages/uk/england/index.html Genealogy Llinks.net]
*[[England Cheshire Church of England Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Cheshire Church of England Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[http://www.coraweb.com.au/categories/uk/birth-marriage-and-death-records/ukbmd-local-bmd-sites Coraweb.com]
*[[England Cheshire Non-Conformist Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Cheshire Nonconformist Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[http://www.origins.net/BOWelcome.aspx Origins.net]<br>  
*[[England Cornwall Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Cornwall Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England, Derbyshire, Church of England, Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Derbyshire Church of England Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England Diocese of Durham Bishops' Transcripts, 1700-1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Durham (Diocese) Bishops' Transcripts, 1700-1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  
*[[England, Dorset, Church of England, Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Dorset Church of England Church Records (FamilySearch Histaorical Records)]]
*[[England Essex Church of England Parish Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts|England Essex Church of England Parish Registers and Bishops' Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England, Kent, Parish Registers and Bishop's Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Kent Parish Registers and Bishop's Transcripts (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England, Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, 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 Norfolk Church of England Parish Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts|England Norfolk Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England, Northumberland, Miscellaneous Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Northumberland, Miscellaneous Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[England Warwickshire Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England Warwickshire Church of England Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]


[[Category:England]]
[[Category:England Church Records]]
[[Category:England]][[Category:Church Records]]

Latest revision as of 19:49, 16 June 2024


England Wiki Topics
Flag of England
England Beginning Research
Record Types
England Background
England Genealogical Word Lists
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources
Osmotherley3

For information about Nonconformist religious denominations and their registers, go to the England Nonconformist Church Records page.

For information about records for non-Christian religions in England, go to the Religious Records page.

Introduction

See History of Parish Registers in England

Church records are the main source for genealogy prior to 1837 when civil registration began. It is also a useful source after 1837 in conjunction with civil registration.

Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, many parishes did not start to keep registers until later and some early records have since been lost or destroyed. Beginning in 1598, copies of entries from many parishes were copied and sent annually to the bishop for the diocese of that area and these copies are known as Bishop’s Transcripts or BTs.

Parish. A parish is the jurisdictional unit that governs church affairs within its boundaries. Each local parish kept registers of baptisms/christenings, marriages and burials and other records. Small villages often do not have their own parishes but nevertheless have a chapel of ease built and are part of a parish headquartered in another town. A parish may consist of one or more chapelries, dependent district churches or chapels of ease (see below).

Chapelry. A small parochial division of a large, populated parish. Most chapels or chapelries kept their own registers of baptisms and burials, and where authorization to marry was granted, marriage registers. Large cities, market town parishes and occasional other parishes--in especially Lancashire's original 75 ancient parishes, and many in Cheshire, Greater London, and Yorkshire counties consisted of numerous chapelries. For example, England's largest parish of Manchester (the Cathedral), was not the only church standing within its own boundary. Because of the Industrial Revolution and subsequent massive migration into its large boundary, by 1900 Manchester comprised well over 150 attached chapels, many of ancient origin.

Diocese. Many parishes are grouped together under the jurisdiction of a bishop. A bishop heads a diocese. Some dioceses include one or more archdeaconries administered by an archdeacon. These may be divided into rural deaneries, headed by a rural dean. Each deanery consists of several parishes.

Calendar changes: The Gregorian calendar, the one commonly used today, is a correction of the Julian calendar, which, because of miscalculated leap years, was 11 days behind the solar year by 1752. England began using the new calendar in 1752. Eleven days were omitted to bring the calendar in line with the solar year. The day after Wednesday, 2 September 1752, became Thursday, 14 September 1752. Also at that time, the first day of the year changed to 1 January. Before 1752, the first day of the year was 25 March. Pre-1752 dates may be confusing. For example, the day after 24 March 1565 was 25 March 1566. Dates between 1 January and 24 March are often recorded using a technique called double dating. An example of double dating is 16 February 1696/7. For more information, see Handbook of Dates for Students of English History, by C. R. Cheney.

Religions of England

Non-Conformist Churches

  • Various Non-Conformist groups, included all Methodists, Baptist and Presbyterian spin-off denominations, as well the Independents, Roman Catholic, and Society of Friends (Quakers). They slowly grew in legal standing and in numbers from about 1600 onwards, experiencing at first much persecution and discrimination.

Roman Catholic Church

Catholic Dioceses of England and Wales
  • Roman Catholics remained present in England after the split between Rome and the Church of England in aboout 1536. They were heavily persecuted and most records became extant after laws of 1778, 1791 and 1829 lifted discrimination against them.











Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Mormons, LDS or, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church records include mostly membership records, i.e. baptisms, and some marriages and deaths, etc.,(about 51,000 attending members by 1851) begin by July, 1837. A few are available online through the 1) online Church History Library Catalog: just type name of England county and the word "branch". Most, if not, all records are available to access by in-person visit to the Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Note: The records have been digitised for internal purposes and access. All locality records of Membership are currently being indexed (as of 2022). 2) A slight majority of records are also available in the FamilySearch Library's microfilm collections; see the FamilySearch.org online catalog. Search under the name of the township/parish name and then click "Record of Members". These records may only be searched by in-person visitors at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, UT.

See Church of England Parish Registers, England Nonconformist Church Records.

Accessing England Church Records

Accessing Records

The first step is to find out which records survive for the parish you are researching. The following places are useful for this:

Once you know what records exist, the next step is to access those records. The easiest way to find records for a particular ancestor is to use an index or transcript of the records. If these are not available then you'll need to browse the original records manually to find records of interest. Both can often be done online, though many websites required a subscription, or can be used for free only at public libraries and FamilySearch Centers (FSCs).

The original records are usually stored at county record offices (Anglican) or The National Archives (non-conformist). A few may remain in custody of the parish, or at local archives or museums.

Major Resources

  • The resources are prioritized from left to right, with the left column containing the most complete coverage for the county.
  • Percentages in parentheses indicate the approximate percentage of the records included in that collection. Many collections will have a table or index showing the specific parishes and years they have records for.
  • OPC is an abbreviation for Online Parish Clerks, a group of websites that transcribes parish records and make them freely available online
  • FHS is an abbreviation for a county Family History Society and available products for purchase, i.e. CDs containing indexes to church baptisms or marriage records of the county.
  • Many of these collections have the baptisms, marriages and burials on separate webpages. Links to the resources from all this table are always to the baptisms.
  • A free account is required to access FamilySearch, and some of the images on their websites can only be viewed at FSCs or Affiliate Libraries. See the next section for information about records formerly part of the IGI.

Few, if any, of these collections will be 100% complete.

signifies index only
signifies index with images attached
signifies images only
England County Church Records Availability - Indexes and/or Transcriptions
County (pre-1974) Best coverage Less Coverage Offline Records
Bedfordshire FamilySearch (98%) FreeReg Bedfordshire Parish Register Series ($ or in person)
Berkshire FamilySearch(70%) Findmypast ($) Berkshire Record Office ($ or in person)
Buckinghamshire FamilySearch (50%) Findmypast ($) Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies (in person)
Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire FHS FamilySearch (70%) Findmypast ($) Cambridgeshire FHS CDs ($). Can be accessed for free at the FS Library in Salt Lake City.
Cheshire FamilySearch (70%) Findmypast ($) Ancestry.com ($) Cheshire Parish Register Project
Cornwall FamilySearch Cornwall OPC FreeReg (85%, mostly marriages) Findmypast ($) Ancestry.com ($)
Cumberland FamilySearch (80%)
Derbyshire Findmypast (85%) ($) FamilySearch Ancestry.com ($)
Devon Findmypast ($) FamilySearch (50%)
Dorset FamilySearch Ancestry.com ($) Findmypast ($) TheGenealogist ($)
Durham FamilySearch Findmypast ($) FreeReg (25%) Durham Records Online Durham Record Office (in person)
Essex FamilySearch TheGenealogist ($) Findmypast ($) Essex OPC Essex Record Office ($) or in person.
Gloucestershire Ancestry.com ($) FamilySearch TheGenealogist ($) Bath and Avon FHS ($) CDs
Hampshire FamilySearch TheGenealogist ($) Findmypast ($) Hampshire Record Office marriage index (mostly complete)
Herefordshire FamilySearch (80%) HARC (in person)
Hertfordshire FamilySearch (90%) Findmypast ($)
Huntingdonshire FamilySearch Findmypast ($) (burials) Huntingdonshire Archives (in person)
Kent FamilySearch Findmypast ($) Ancestry.com ($) Kent OPC
Lancashire Ancestry.com ($)* FamilySearch Lancashire OPC Findmypast (Manchester only) ($)
Leicestershire FamilySearch (40%) Findmypast ($) Leicestershire and Rutland FHS (70%)
Lincolnshire FamilySearch (85%) FreeReg (82%) Findmypast ($)
London* FamilySearch (90%) Ancestry.com ($)
Middlesex Ancestry.com (60%) ($) Findmypast ($) FamilySearch
Norfolk FreeReg (75%) Ancestry.com ($) FamilySearch Findmypast ($)
Northamptonshire Ancestry.com ($) FreeReg (71%) Northamptonshire FHS FamilySearch
Northumberland FamilySearch (85%) Findmypast ($) FreeReg (80%) England, Northumberland, Parish Registers, 1538-1950
Nottinghamshire FreeReg (90%) Ancestry.com ($) Findmypast ($) FamilySearch Nottinghamshire Archives
Oxfordshire Ancestry.com ($) FamilySearch (85%) Oxfordshire FHS
Rutland FamilySearch (80%) Findmypast ($)
Shropshire Findmypast ($) FamilySearch
Somerset Ancestry.com ($) FreeReg (85%) FamilySearch (30%) Findmypast ($)
Staffordshire FamilySearch (85%) Findmypast ($) FreeReg (85%)
Suffolk FamilySearch (65%) Findmypast ($) Suffolk Record Office (in person)
Surrey Ancestry.com (70%) ($) Findmypast ($) FamilySearch
Sussex FamilySearch (65%) Sussex OPC TheGenealogist ($) Findmypast ($) (burials)
Warwickshire Ancestry.com ($)* FamilySearch Findmypast ($) Warwickshire OPC
Westmorland FamilySearch (70%) Kendal Archival Center (in person)
Wiltshire Findmypast ($) FamilySearch (50%) FreeReg (80%) Ancestry.com ($)
Worcestershire FamilySearch (75%) TheGenealogist ($)
Yorkshire Ancestry.com ($) (West Yorkshire) FamilySearch (75%) Findmypast ($)
  • Ancestry also has records for Birmingham and Manchester separate from the records for Warwickshire and Lancashire respectively.
  • What is now London was formerly Middlesex, and portions of northeast Surrey, northwest Kent, and West Ham, in Essex.
  • List of Online England and Wales Church Records - additional list of best websites for Church Records with number of records per website

Non-Conformist Religions

For more background, see Religious non-conformity in England.
General Collections

By County

Society of Friends - Quakers

Roman Catholic

IGI

Starting in 1973, FamilySearch created a major index called the IGI (International Genealogical Index). Its purpose was two-fold. It contained both indexed/extracted church register name entries and user-submitted records.

The records that were extracted from original source documents comprised the main portion of the original IGI, and with some areas receiving a majority of records included. No original images were included. The records were arranged in batches and sometimes it is useful to know what batches correspond to a particular place. Archersoftware, while a few years out of date, still provides batch information for the entire British Isles.

In approximately 2004, FamilySearch database engineers migrated all of the IGI extracted data (from parish registers such as baptisms and marriages) into its main search page currently found on FamilySearch.org, and left the remaining individual or "user submitted" records in the IGI intact, with only 430 million submitted name entries, on the "Genealogies" page on FamilySearch's website. Like all compiled sources such as family trees, published genealogies, and transcription records, caution is required as some (IGI) information may be incorrect and mostly incomplete. The user submitted records come from all over the world, with only a small portion relating to England.

To do a general search of old (IGI) database of submitted entries see the following or use the general FamilySearch search engine on the main search page.

Here is a list of those stand-alone databases (each with its own individual search page). Most pages have not been updated in recent years. Use each with some caution:

FamilySearch Catalog

The FamilySearch Library contains an extensive collection of English church records. The most common are:

  • Parish registers from their beginning up to the nineteenth century or later
  • Bishops’ transcripts from 1598 up to the mid- 19th century
  • Transcripts of parish registers
  • Parish chest records
  • Registers of nonconformist churches to 1837 (sometimes later)

To find church records from a particular place, use the FamilySearch Catalog. Look under "church records" and find the religion, year and record type of interest. If an index is available for the records, a magnifying glass symbol will appear. If a camera symbol also appears, the images are also accessible from any computer. A camera symbol with a key indicates the image is only accessible from a FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library. A microfilm symbol means that the images are not yet available online, and can only be viewed on microfilm at the FS Library in Salt Lake City.

Regional and Local Websites

Various genealogical societies and organizations have produced transcriptions of records. One prominent groups of sites are the Online Parish Clerks (OPCs). For each county the OPC site is run by volunteers to make church records freely available online. For example, see Lancashire OPC

For more detail about resources for a particular county or parish, see the wiki page for that area. For example, Bedfordshire Church Records, or Ashbourne

Other useful sites are DustyDocs and UKBMD, both providing information about websites specific to the area or parish.

Extracted Records

Similiar to the IGI, other individuals and organisations made transcriptions of a small subset of England church records to aid researchers. While mostly superseded by the large databases of the major websites, they may still be useful in some circumstances.

Military, Overseas and Maritime Records

Other Sites

Offline Indexes

Indexes to church records have been published by family history societies in England. Read more in the Societies article.

  • Some county record offices hold in-house and sometimes, online indexes to their own records holdings.
  • Many family history societies have published in booklet-form, or on microfiche, or on CD-ROM numerous countywide or parish church records transcriptions and indexes.

Privately held marriage indexes for most counties are available by correspondence at either of the following two sources. Many indexes are listed with the addresses of where to write in:

  • Humphery-Smith, Cecil R., The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers. Second Edition. Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore & Company, 1995. (FS Library book 942 E7pa 1995.)
  • Gibson, Jeremy, and Elizabeth Hampson, Editors. Marriage and Census Indexes for Family Historians. Seventh Edition. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Limited, 1998. (FS Library book 942 D27gjh.)
  • Some marriage indexes are on film at the FamilySearch Library. To find them, use the Place-name search of the FamilySearch Catalogue and search for a county of interest and the topic of CHURCH RECORDS - INDEXES.

Protestation Returns

The Protestation Returns of 1641–1642 are lists of English males over the age of 18 who took, or did not take, an oath of allegiance "to live and die for the true Protestant religion, the liberties and rights of subjects and the privilege of Parliaments." These lists were usually compiled by parish, or township, within hundred, or wapentake.[1]

Archives

Lambeth Palace

County Record Offices

Most of the Church of England parish registers and bishop's transcript copies are deposited in the county record offices throughout the country. Additionally, while a majority of the nonconformist church registers have been deposited at The National Archives, some of these church registers have been deposited in the county records offices.

These record offices are open to the public and all have a website by which you can learn more about their services, the records and their availability, and online offerings.

Besides county record offices, church records may also be deposited at the local parish, libraries, museums, or other repositories.

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.

Lambeth Palace Great Hall

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:

For further information on the Library’s collections and services, please see its website: Lambeth Palace Library.org

Parish Boundaries

To find an ancestor in church records, you should know their religion and the parish where they lived. The Place Search on the FamilySearch Catalog usually uses the parish names as given in The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales. See England Gazetteers for this source and other help in finding a parish. Also see the England & Wales Jurisdictions 1851 map to locate the parish. Be aware that local residents sometimes referred to their parish by the name of the parish patron saint, rather than by the location of the parish. In cities where there is more than one parish, the FamilySearch Catalog uses the patron saint's name with the name of the city to identify records of different parishes.

Parish maps can help you determine which parish to search. Maps will reveal neighboring parishes to search if your ancestor is not listed in the parish where you expected him or her to be. See England Maps for more information.

Types of Records

Baptisms

Baptism records usually contain:

  • Child's given name
  • Father's given name, and from 1813 his occupation and residence/address
  • Mother's name, and (rarely) her maiden surname
  • Baptism date, and occasionally birth date, which can sometimes be several years before the baptism.

It is worth mentioning that it was common practice in families to use the same Christian name over and over again until a child survived with it. This means that individuals need to try and capture all of the family members listed watching for deaths and that same name being given to the next child of the same sex.

  • Baptism Record Example
  • Christening Register

    Christening Register

Marriages

Typically, the English married in their 20's. You may find records that show a couple’s “intent to marry” in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. Church of England parish register marriage records usually contain:

  • Marriage date 
  • Name of the bride and groom

After 1753, the records are more likely to show: 

  • Residence of the bride and groom 
  • Marital status of bride and groom 
  • May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.
  • After 1753, a form was used for parish registers
  • After 1753, whether marriage was by banns or license
  • After 1753, the full names of usually two witnesses 
  • After 1753, the minister's name

After 30 June 1837, marriage records also include:

  • Age of the bride and groom 
  • Name and occupation of fathers of bride and groom 

There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry, see Marriage Allegations, Bonds and Licences in England and Wales

  1. By Banns. A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays, unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date.
  2. By License. A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when:
    • Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns.
    • The bride and groom lived in different dioceses.
    • A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists).
  • Marriage Record Examples
  • Marriage before 1754 and Banns after 1754

    Marriage before 1754 and Banns after 1754

  • 1754-1837 Marriage Record

    1754-1837 Marriage Record

  • Marriage after 1837

    Marriage after 1837

Burials

A burial usually took place in the deceased’s parish a few days after the death. Church of England parish register burial records usually contain:

  • Burial date 
  • Name of the deceased. 
  • If the deceased is a child, the father’s name might be given. 
  • If the deceased is a married woman, the husband’s name might be given
  • If the deceased is a widow, that may be noted. 
  • May give the sex of the deceased

The forms introduced in 1813 also called for:

  • Age of the deceased
  • Residence of the deceased 
  • Occupation of the deceased
  • Minister's signature

Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened, including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths.

  • Burial Record Example
  • Burial Register

    Burial Register

Bishop's Transcripts

Beginning in 1598, ministers were required to send copies of their registers to an archdeacon or bishop annually. These copies are referred to as bishops’ transcripts, or sometimes archdeacon transcripts. As a result, two copies of many parish registers exist from 1598 to about the mid-1800s. After civil registration began in 1837, the value of keeping bishops’ transcripts diminished, so by 1870 most parishes had stopped making them.

Bishop's transcripts should be an exact copy of the parish register but they often are not. This may be because:

  • The minister was saving time and space by abbreviating entries when copying them.
  • The minister may have added more detail to an entry when he copied it into the BTs.
  • BT's were on separate pieces of parchment and some may have been lost over the years.
  • BT's may survive where the parish registers do not.
  • Entries may have been accidently skipped or mis-transcribed when the record was copied for the BT's.

Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the FamilySearch Library, listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalogue under:

England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records

Most films contain all the years for one parish on one film. However, some are arranged by deanery and year. Those arranged by year and then by deanery are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalogue under:

England, [county name] - Church records

Parish Chest Records

The Parish Chest

Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox) known as the parish chest. Because the Church of England was ordered by the Crown to keep records on all their congregants, any recorded business other than the christenings, marriages and burials of the parishioners was kept in this chest and are known as "parish chest records." Some of these records still exist from the 16th century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. Many parish chest records are available at county record offices.

These records may include:

  • Vestry (parish presiding council) minutes which can mention appointments of parish officers, parish newcomers, etc.
  • Poor law records containing information regarding the care of the poor including payments made to the poor, bastardy bonds, taxes assessed to meet welfare needs, and possibly include the names of the "Overseers of the Poor" along with minutes, accounts, rates, and workhouse accounts.
For more details on poor law records, see England and Wales Poor Law Records Pre-1834 and England and Wales Poor Law Records 1834-1948.
  • Churchwardens who were responsible to the bishop or magistrate to present any wrongdoings at quarter sessions, including failure to provide for the poor, failure to attend church, drunkenness, or other undesirable behaviour.
  • Settlement and removal records which relate to a person's legal place of settlement as determined by a set of rules. These records include responsibility for the care of old-age family members; as well as, the orders directing the constable to remove (transport) the family back to the parish where their petition for welfare settlement originated.
Read more in the Settlement and Removal Records article.
  • Apprenticeship records often list the apprentice’s father, his master, the length of the apprenticeship, and the occupation. A child’s father often arranged the apprenticeship, but the parish "put out" many pauper children, since it was cheaper to pay for an apprenticeship than to raise a child. The child’s name may also be in vestry minutes when the vestry decided to put the child out as an apprentice. You may also find apprenticeships in other sources.
Read more in the Occupations article.
  • Militia certificates
  • Detailed information on individuals and families


For further information on parish chest material, see:

Rectors and Vicars

List of rectors, vicars, canons, deans, archdeacons, bishops, and others roles, with their years and locations where they served, extracted from alumni records of Oxford and Cambridge Universities and other sources: https://www.ourfamtree.org/records/religion.php


Search Strategies and Tips

As you search church records, use the following strategies:

  • Search both Church of England parish registers and bishops’ transcripts, as either may contain entries missing from the other.
  • Note all entries, including burials, in the parish registers for the surname of interest unless the name is very common.
  • Note gaps or missing pages in the record. This may suggest that you should search alternative records for that time period.
  • If the church records do not contain enough information, search for hints (residence, occupation, and so on) that suggest other records to search.
  • If you find little or no mention of your family in Church of England parish records, search neighboring parishes and nonconformist records. However before 1837 non-Anglicans were supposed to marry in the Church of England, the only exception being Jews and Quakers.
  • If a marriage record indicates the marriage was by license, it can be very worthwhile to find the marriage license.
  • Remember that baptism was not always a few days after birth, and could occur when the child was several years old. When siblings are baptized together, this does not mean they were born together.
  • Older records may use handwriting styles that are difficult to read, and therefore take a lot of practice and learning to successfully decipher.
  • Naming traditions were often used to name children. The most common and best followed is that the oldest son is named after the father's father.
  • The fathers of illegitimate children are often unknown, yet alone recorded.
  • Women will be referred to by their married surnames. Only a small proportion of baptism records will record the mother's maiden name.
  • It was traditional to marry in the residence of the bride. However Banns still had to be posted in every parish both parties had resided in recently.

Online Learning

FamilySearch Help Center Online Lessons:

Related Web Pages

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Protestation Returns of 1641–1642" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestation_Returns_of_1641%E2%80%931642 accessed 18 Mar 2024
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=England_Church_Records&oldid=5768128"