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[[Image:Osmotherley3.jpg|thumb|right|275x186px]]Church records are the main source for identifying people prior to 1837 when civil registration began. It is also a main source after 1837 in conjunction with civil registration. The Church of England was created in 1536, after King Henry VIII severed all ties to the church in Rome, he directed that each local parish be responsible to register all marriages, baptisms and burials. The governing of each parish created a group of records known as [[Parish Chest Records|parish chest records]]. The Church of England has dominated the religious scene in England; therefore it is likely that this is where you will find your ancestors. As time passes other religions began to organize and create records. Those that did not belong to the Church of England were referred to as [[England Church Records#Nonconformist_Church_Records|nonconformists or dissenters]]. The main influence of the nonconformist was in larger towns and cities. | [[Image:Osmotherley3.jpg|thumb|right|275x186px]]Church records are the main source for identifying people prior to 1837 when civil registration began. It is also a main source after 1837 in conjunction with civil registration. The Church of England was created in 1536, after King Henry VIII severed all ties to the church in Rome, he directed that each local parish be responsible to register all marriages, baptisms and burials. The governing of each parish created a group of records known as [[Parish Chest Records|parish chest records]]. The Church of England has dominated the religious scene in England; therefore it is likely that this is where you will find your ancestors. As time passes other religions began to organize and create records. Those that did not belong to the Church of England were referred to as [[England Church Records#Nonconformist_Church_Records|nonconformists or dissenters]]. The main influence of the nonconformist was in larger towns and cities. | ||
Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of records, many parishes did not start to keep registers until some years later and some 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. | Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of records, many parishes did not start to keep registers until some years later and some 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. For Lincolnshire, many Bishop's transcripts began as early as 1561. Archdeacon transcripts exist for many Kent County as well; some as early 1560. | ||
'''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. '''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. | ||
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'''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 registers kept. Occasional parishes throughout England, but especially most of Lancashire's 60-plus parishes, and many in Cheshire were comprised of numerous chapelries, i.e. Parish of Prestbury, Cheshire--many chapels 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''] for pre-1848 and, for post-1848 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 was granted, marriages were performed and registers kept. Occasional parishes throughout England, but especially most of Lancashire's 60-plus parishes, and many in Cheshire were comprised of numerous chapelries, i.e. Parish of Prestbury, Cheshire--many chapels 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''] for pre-1848 and, for post-1848 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. | ||
'''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 == | == Church of England Records == | ||
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England, [county name] - Church records | England, [county name] - Church records | ||
For Lincolnshire, many Bishop's transcripts begin as early as 1561. | |||
Archdeacon transcripts exist for many Kent County parishes--some as early as 1560. | |||
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=== Parish Chest Records === | === Parish Chest Records === | ||
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*[http://www.findmypast.co.uk/home.jsp FindMyPast.co.uk] - nearly 70 million entries | *[http://www.findmypast.co.uk/home.jsp FindMyPast.co.uk] - nearly 70 million entries | ||
*[http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#r=1&p=allCollections RecordSearchPilot at FamilySearch.org] - nearly 30 million entries taken from many sources including Church of England parish records. | *[http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#r=1&p=allCollections RecordSearchPilot at FamilySearch.org] - nearly 30 million entries taken from many sources including Church of England parish records. | ||
*[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 | *[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 12 million | ||
*[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] - over 125 million entries; some with images | |||
*[http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Ancestry.co.uk] - vast entries for Greater London and other regions of England - about 10 million entries. Includes Pallot's marriage index. | *[http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Ancestry.co.uk] - vast entries for Greater London and other regions of England - about 10 million entries. Includes Pallot's marriage index. | ||
*[http://freereg.rootsweb.com/ FreeReg.org.uk] - about 10 million entries | *[http://freereg.rootsweb.com/ FreeReg.org.uk] - about 10 million entries | ||
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*[http://www.fhlfavorites.info/Links/British/Start_%20Page/British_Frame_Page.htm fhlfavorites.com] | *[http://www.fhlfavorites.info/Links/British/Start_%20Page/British_Frame_Page.htm fhlfavorites.com] | ||
*Google the following search terms: 1) "Index", 2) "Church reocrds", i.e. "baptism", 3) and name of place, i.e. "Westminster" | *Google the following search terms: 1) "Index", 2) "Church reocrds", i.e. "baptism", 3) and name of place, i.e. "Westminster" | ||
*[[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.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 | *[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 | ||