Virginia Church Records: Difference between revisions

Before the American Revolution, the state church of Virginia was the Church of England (also called Anglican, and later Protestant Episcopal). Besides keeping parish registers, the church kept many records of a civil nature in their vestry books. In many instances, parish registers containing baptism, marriage, and death records have not survived when vestry books have.  

Some early parish registers are incomplete or missing. Many of those still existing are available at the Library of Virginia and many copies are at the Family History Library. Rivah Research charts the survival of Virginia's CoE records in [http://www.rivahresearch.com/westmorelandcty/vitals/resources/religion/parishregister.htm Virginia Parish Registers Information & Location]. Many have been published. Baptisms and marriages from most colonial Virginia parishes are indexed in the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1&region=NORTH_AMERICA| International Genealogical Index], see: [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbersNA/SPVirginia.htm#PageTitle Hugh Wallis's IGI Batch Numbers for Virginia, USA] for a breakdown.  

[[Abingdon Parish, Virginia|Abingdon]]{{·}} [[Accomac Parish, Virginia|Accomac]]{{·}} [[Accomack Parish, Virginia|Accomack]]{{·}} [[Albemarle Parish, Virginia|Albemarle]]{{·}} [[Amherst Parish, Virginia|Amherst]]{{·}} [[Antrim Parish, Virginia|Antrim]]{{·}} [[Appomattox Parish, Virginia|Appomattox]]{{·}} [[Argalls Gift Parish, Virginia|Argall's Gift]]{{·}} [[Augusta Parish, Virginia|Augusta]]{{·}} [[Bath Parish, Virginia|Bath]]{{·}} [[Beckford Parish, Virginia|Beckford]]{{·}} [[Berkeley Parish, Virginia|Berkeley]]{{·}} [[Blisland Parish, Virginia|Blisland]]{{·}} [[Blount Point Parish, Virginia|Blount Point]]{{·}} [[Botetourt Parish, Virginia|Botetourt]]{{·}} [[Boutracy Parish, Virginia|Boutracy]]{{·}} [[Bristol Parish, Virginia|Bristol]]{{·}} [[Bromfield Parish, Virginia|Bromfield]]{{·}} [[Brunswick Parish, Virginia|Brunswick]]{{·}} [[Bruton Parish, Virginia|Bruton]]{{·}} [[Camden Parish, Virginia|Camden]]{{·}} [[Cameron Parish, Virginia|Cameron]]{{·}} [[Charles City Parish, Virginia|Charles City]]{{·}} [[Charles Parish, Virginia|Charles]]{{·}} [[Charles River Parish, Virginia|Charles River]]{{·}} [[Chickacoan Parish, Virginia|Chickacoan]]{{·}} [[Chickahominy Parish, Virginia|Chickahominy]]{{·}} [[Chippokes Parish, Virginia|Chippokes]]{{·}} [[Chiskiack Parish, Virginia|Chiskiack]]{{·}} [[Chotank Parish, Virginia|Chotank]]{{·}} [[Christ Church Parish, Lancaster, Virginia|Christ Church (Lancaster Co.)]]{{·}} [[Christ Church Parish, Middlesex, Virginia|Christ Church (Middlesex Co.)]]{{·}} [[Chuckatuck Parish, Virginia|Chuckatuck]]{{·}} [[Cople Parish, Virginia|Cople]]{{·}} [[Cornwall Parish, Virginia|Cornwall]]{{·}} [[Cumberland Parish, Virginia|Cumberland]]{{·}} [[Dale Parish, Virginia|Dale]]{{·}} [[Denbigh Parish, Virginia|Denbigh]]{{·}} [[Dettingen Parish, Virginia|Dettingen]]{{·}} [[Drysdale Parish, Virginia|Drysdale]]{{·}} [[East Parish, Virginia|East]]{{·}} [[Elizabeth City Parish, Virginia|Elizabeth City]]{{·}} [[Elizabeth River Parish, Virginia|Elizabeth River]]{{·}} [[Fairfax Parish, Virginia|Fairfax]]{{·}} [[Fairfield Parish, Virginia|Fairfield]]{{·}} [[Farnham Parish, Virginia|Farnham]]{{·}} [[Flowerdew Hundred Parish, Virginia|Flowerdew Hundred]]{{·}}[[Fluvanna Parish, Virginia|Fluvanna]]{{·}} [[Frederick Parish, Virginia|Frederick]]{{·}} [[Fredericksville Parish, Virginia|Fredericksville]]{{·}} [[Hamilton Parish, Virginia|Hamilton]]{{·}} [[Hampton Parish, Virginia|Hampton]]{{·}} [[Hanover Parish, Virginia|Hanover]]{{·}} [[Harrop Parish, Virginia|Harrop]]{{·}} [[Henrico Parish, Virginia|Henrico]]{{·}} [[Hog Island Parish, Virginia|Hog Island]]{{·}} [[Hungars Parish, Virginia|Hungars]]{{·}} [[James City Parish, Virginia|James City]]{{·}} [[Jordans Journey Parish, Virginia|Jordan's Journey]]{{·}} [[Kecoughtan Parish, Virginia|Kecoughtan]]{{·}} [[Kingston Parish, Virginia|Kingston]]{{·}} [[King William Parish, Virginia|King William]]{{·}} [[Lancaster Parish, Virginia|Lancaster]]{{·}} [[Lawnes Creek Parish, Virginia|Lawnes Creek]]{{·}} [[Lee Parish, Virginia|Lee]]{{·}} [[Leeds Parish, Virginia|Leeds]]{{·}} [[Lexington Parish, Virginia|Lexington]]{{·}} [[Littleton Parish, Virginia|Littleton]]{{·}} [[Lower Parish, Elizabeth City, Virginia|Lower (Elizabeth City Co.)]]{{·}} [[Lower Parish, Isle of Wight, Virginia|Lower (Isle of Wight Co.)]] {{·}} [[Lower Parish, Lancaster, Virginia|Lower (Lancaster Co.)]] {{·}} [[Lower Parish, Nansemond, Virginia|Lower (Nansemond Co.)]]{{·}} [[Lower Parish, Northampton, Virginia|Lower (Northampton Co.)]]{{·}} [[Lower Parish, Stafford, Virginia|Lower (Stafford Co.)]]{{·}} [[Lower Parish, Upper Norfolk, Virginia|Lower (Upper Norfolk Co.)]]{{·}} [[Lower Suffolk Parish, Virginia|Lower Suffolk]]{{·}} [[Lunenburg Parish, Virginia|Lunenburg]]{{·}} [[Lynnhaven Parish, Virginia|Lynnhaven]]{{·}} [[Machodick Parish, Virginia|Machodick]]{{·}} [[Manchester Parish, Virginia|Manchester]]{{·}} [[Marston Parish, Virginia|Marston]]{{·}} [[Martins Brandon Parish, Virginia|Martin's Brandon]]{{·}} [[Martins Hundred Parish, Virginia|Martin's Hundred]]{{·}} [[Meherrin Parish, Virginia|Meherrin]]{{·}} [[Middle Plantation Parish, Virginia|Middle Plantation]]{{·}} [[Middletowne Parish, Virginia|Middletowne]]{{·}} [[Montgomery Parish, Virginia|Montgomery]]{{·}} [[Mulberry Island Parish, Virginia|Mulberry Island]]{{·}} [[New Poquoson Parish, Virginia|New Poquoson]]{{·}} [[Newport Parish, Virginia|Newport]]{{·}} [[Nomini Parish, Virginia|Nomini]]{{·}} [[Norborne Parish, Virginia|Norborne]]{{·}} [[Northampton Parish, Virginia|Northampton]]{{·}} [[North Farnham Parish, Virginia|North Farnham]]{{·}} [[Nottoway Parish, Prince Edward, Virginia|Nottoway (Prince Edward Co.)]]{{·}} [[Nottoway Parish, Southampton, Virginia|Nottoway (Southampton Co.)]]{{·}} [[Nutmeg Quarter Parish, Virginia|Nutmeg Quarter]]{{·}} [[Occohannock Parish, Virginia|Occohannock]]{{·}} [[Overwharton Parish, Virginia|Overwharton]]{{·}} [[Patrick Parish, Virginia|Patrick]]{{·}} [[Petsworth Parish, Virginia|Petsworth]]{{·}} [[Piankatank Parish, Virginia|Piankatank]]{{·}} [[Piscataway Parish, Virginia|Piscataway]]{{·}} [[Poropotank Parish, Virginia|Poropotank]]{{·}} [[Portsmouth Parish, Virginia|Portsmouth]]{{·}} [[Potomac Parish, Virginia|Potomac]]{{·}} [[Raleigh Parish, Virginia|Raleigh]]{{·}} [[Richmond Parish, Virginia|Richmond]]{{·}} [[Rockbridge Parish, Virginia|Rockbridge]]{{·}} [[Rockingham Parish, Virginia|Rockingham]]{{·}} [[Russell Parish, Virginia|Russell]]{{·}} [[St. Andrews Parish, Virginia|St. Andrew's]]{{·}} [[St. Annes Parish, Albemarle, Virginia|St. Anne's (Albemarle Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. Annes Parish, Essex and Caroline, Virginia|St. Anne's (Essex and Caroline Cos.)]]{{·}} [[St. Asaphs Parish, Virginia|St. Asaph's]]{{·}} [[St. Brides Parish, Virginia|St. Brides]]{{·}} [[St. Davids Parish, Virginia|St. David's]]{{·}} [[St. Georges Parish, Accomack, Virginia|St. George's (Accomack Co.)]] {{·}} [[St. Georges Parish, Spotsylvania, Virginia|St. George's (Spotsylvania Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. James Northam Parish, Virginia|St. James Northam]]{{·}} [[St. James Southam Parish, Virginia|St. James Southam]]{{·}} [[St. James Parish, Goochland, Virginia|St. James's (Goochland Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. James Parish, Mecklenburg, Virginia|St. James's (Mecklenburg Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. Johns Parish, Virginia|St. John's]]{{·}} [[St. Lukes Parish, Virginia|St. Luke's]]{{·}} [[St. Margarets Parish, Virginia|St. Margaret's]]{{·}} [[St. Marks Parish, Virginia|St. Mark's]]{{·}} [[St. Martins Parish, Virginia|St. Martin's]]{{·}} [[St. Marys Parish, Virginia|St. Mary's]]{{·}} [[St. Marys Whitechapel Parish, Virginia|St. Mary's Whitechapel]]{{·}} [[St. Patricks Parish, Virginia|St. Patrick's]]{{·}} [[St. Pauls Parish, Hanover, Virginia|St. Paul's (Hanover Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. Pauls Parish, King George, Virginia|St. Paul's (King George Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. Peters Parish, Virginia|St. Peter's]]{{·}} [[St. Stephens Parish, King and Queen, Virginia|St. Stephen's (King and Queen Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. Stephens Parish, Northumberland, Virginia|St. Stephen's (Northumberland Co.)]]{{·}} [[St. Thomas Parish, Virginia|St. Thomas]]{{·}} [[Shelburne Parish, Virginia|Shelburne]]{{·}} [[Sittenburne Parish, Virginia|Sittenburne]]{{·}} [[Smiths Hundred Parish, Virginia|Smith's Hundred]]{{·}} [[South Parish, Virginia|South]]{{·}} [[Southampton Parish, Virginia|Southampton]]{{·}} [[South Farnham Parish, Virginia|South Farnham]]{{·}} [[Southwark Parish, Virginia|Southwark]]{{·}} [[Stafford Parish, Virginia|Stafford]]{{·}} [[Stanley Hundred Parish, Virginia|Stanley Hundred]]{{·}} [[Stratton Major Parish, Virginia|Stratton Major]]{{·}} [[Suffolk Parish, Virginia|Suffolk]]{{·}} [[Tillotson Parish, Virginia|Tillotson]]{{·}} [[Trinity Parish, Lancaster, Virginia|Trinity (Lancaster Co.)]]{{·}} [[Trinity Parish, Louisa, Virginia|Trinity (Louisa Co.)]]{{·}} [[Truro Parish, Virginia|Truro]]{{·}} [[Upper Parish, Elizabeth City, Virginia|Upper (Elizabeth City Co.)]]{{·}}[[Upper Parish, Isle of Wight, Virginia|Upper (Isle of Wight Co.)]]{{·}} [[Upper Parish, Lancaster, Virginia|Upper (Lancaster Co.)]]{{·}} [[Upper Parish, Nansemond, Virginia|Upper (Nansemond Co.)]]{{·}} [[Upper Parish, Northampton, Virginia|Upper (Northampton Co.)]]{{·}} [[Upper Parish, Stafford, Virginia|Upper (Stafford Co.)]] [[Upper Suffolk Parish, Virginia|Upper Suffolk]]{{·}} [[Varina Parish, Virginia|Varina]]{{·}} [[Wallingford Parish, Virginia|Wallingford]]{{·}} [[Ware Parish, Virginia|Ware]]{{·}} [[Warrosquyoake Parish, Virginia|Warrosquyoake]]{{·}} [[Warwick Parish, Virginia|Warwick]]{{·}} [[Washington Parish, Westmoreland, Virginia|Washington (Westmoreland Co.)]]{{·}} [[Washington Parish, Washington, Virginia|Washington (Washington Co.)]]{{·}} [[Waters Creek Parish, Virginia|Waters Creek]]{{·}} [[West Parish, Virginia|West]]{{·}} [[West and Shirley Parish, Virginia|West and Shirley]]{{·}} [[Westbury Parish, Virginia|Westbury]]{{·}} [[Westover Parish, Virginia|Westover]]{{·}} [[Weyanoke Parish, Virginia|Weyanoke]]{{·}} [[Wicomico Parish, Virginia|Wicomico]]{{·}} [[Wilmington Parish, Virginia|Wilmington]]{{·}} [[York Parish, Virginia|York]]{{·}} [[Yorkhampton Parish, Virginia|Yorkhampton]]  

During the last half of the eighteenth century, the Church of England in Virginia&nbsp;lost much of its membership to dissenting religions. Many of the grand church buildings fell into disrepair. In the nineteenth century, "Many Virginians had a deep sense of living among the ruins of a more glorious past."<ref>Rhys Isaac, ''The Transformation of Virginia 1740-1790'' (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1982), 417.</ref>  

*''Colonial Churches: A Series of Sketches of Churches in the Original Colony of Virginia: With Pictures of Each Church.'' Richmond, Va.: Southern Churchman Co., 1907. Digital versions at [http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/Default.aspx?htx=BookList&dbid=28949 Ancestry] ($); [http://books.google.com/books?id=TSISAAAAYAAJ Google Books]; [http://www.archive.org/details/colonialchurches00rich Internet Archives]; 2nd ed. (1908): [http://books.google.com/books?id=MjFLAAAAMAAJ Google Books]; 1990 reprint: {{FHL|521948|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 K2cc}}.

To learn more about the origins of Church of England ministers sent to Virginia from England during the colonial period, start with these books:  

Church of England ministers sent to Virginia were often educated at the English universities of Cambridge and Oxford. The website [http://www.pricegen.com/english_genealogy.html Expert Links: English Family History and Genealogy] contains links to many of these university's records available online under the "Occupations" section.  

=== Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)  ===