GuidedResearch:Ireland Protestant
Ireland Protestant Guided Research
Before 1864, church records are the primary source for birth, marriage, and death information. If researching after 1864, see Civil Records.
Knowing the county is essential in Irish research because of common names. Learn how to find your county.
What religion are you looking for?
Church of Ireland
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Historically, about 10% of Ireland belonged to the Church of Ireland (Anglican Church).
- Most members were located in, what is today, Northern Ireland.
- Records usually start in the late 1700s or early 1800s, but some date back to the 1600s.
- About two-thirds of the records were destroyed in a fire in 1922. However, fragments and transcripts of some of these records exist and can be found online.
- See Church of Ireland Records for more information.
Online Records
- Anglican Record Project at Church of Ireland (images only) - currently limited but growing
- Ireland Church Records at IrishGenealogy.ie - currently limited but growing
- Search All Ireland Records at RootsIreland.ie ($)
Research by Parish
- For a list of which parish registers exist and how to find them: Parish Registers.
See A Guide to Church Records for records held at Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.
Presbyterian
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Historically, less than 10% of Ireland belonged to the Presbyterian church.
- Most members were located in, what is today, Northern Ireland.
- Records start in the 1800s.
- Most records are not online. Most are available at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, or individual congregations.
- See Ireland Presbyterian Church Records for more information.
Online Records
- Ireland Church Records at IrishGenealogy.ie
- Search All Ireland Records at RootsIreland.ie ($)
See A Guide to Church Records for records held at Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.
Other Religions
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Methodist
Historically, about 1% of Ireland was Methodist.
- Most members were located in, what is today, Northern Ireland.
- Methodism was introduced to Ireland in the mid-1700s.
- The majority of records have not been digitized but are mainly in the custody of individual churches and congregations. Records can mainly be obtained through correspondence with individual ministers.
- See Ireland Methodist Church Records for more information.
Online Records
- Search All Ireland Records at RootsIreland.ie ($)
Research By Church
- For a list of which churches exist and how to find them: Index of Irish Methodist Churches, Chapels and Preaching Houses.
See A Guide to Church Records for records held at Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.
Society of Friends (Quakers)
Historically, less than 1% of Ireland belonged to the Society of Friends.
- Most were found in the provinces of Ulster, Leinster, and Munster.
- Records start in the mid-1600s.
- See Ireland Quaker Records for more information.
Online Records
- Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Births at FindMyPast ($)
- Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Marriages at FindMyPast ($)
- Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Deaths at FindMyPast ($)
- Search All Ireland Records at RootsIreland.ie ($)
Independent
Historically, less than 1% of Ireland was Independent (also known as Congregationalist).
- The first Independent church was formed in Ireland in the early 1800s.
- Because each congregation is independent and autonomous, records are mainly in the custody of individual congregations. Records may be obtained through correspondence with individual ministers.
Baptist
Historically, less than 1% of Ireland was Baptist.
- The first Baptist churches in Ireland were formed in the mid-1600s.
- Most Baptist records have not been digitized; records are likely kept by individual churches or in local archives and libraries.
If record not found, what else you can try: