Lancashire Church Records: Difference between revisions

[[Image:Early morning view across the Lune valley, from near Crook of Lune - geograph.org.uk - 632931.jpg|thumb|right|350x250px|Early morning view across the Lune valley, from near Crook of Lune - geograph.org.uk - 632931.jpg]]  

Lancashire was comprised of at least 75 ancient parishes, but well over 400 extant chapels (chapelries) and district churches prior to 1851. As all authoritative treatises on Lancashire civil parishes differ somewhat--some much more than others--in their facts which indicate the extant township chapelries, several key reference publications have been used here to compile as thorough and comprehensive a list of Lancashire parishes and all associated chapelries as may be possible.  

Here is as standard a list as can be identified, of all Lancashire parishes and their chapels of ease, and the township chapelries within their boundaries. Also included next to each parish and chapelry are the ecclesiastical courts which held (pre-1858) jurisdiction over them. These jurisdictions held authoritative oversight and kept additional records for such events as issuing marriage licences, oversight in ecclesiastical (church) court proceedings, probate and in other important records.  

To view all Lancashire parishes and chapelries, click on the links below for the desired parish or chapelry. To help you determine whether a Lancashire place is a parish or chapelry, use one or both of the following excellent 19th century topographical guides:  

[[[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=445 ''Topographical Dictionary of England and Wales'' Topographical Dictionary of England]]

[[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales]]  

&nbsp;Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales <br>