England Church Records: Difference between revisions

England Church Records (view source)

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began tidying up and reorganizing page. Will late create sections "Find England Church records" which will outline where to find, offline and online, images and indexes.

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 == 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. [To find more information and online resources about each parish place-name, visit the county and click the subject of interest in the left margin.]
+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. . 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;
-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.
+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.<br>
-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>
 '''Parish.&nbsp;''' A ''parish'' is the jurisdictional unit that governs church affairs within its boundaries. Each local parish keeps 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, which often keep their own records.
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 '''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.
+== Religions of England ==
+* The '''Church of England''', or '''Anglican Church''', was the predominant and state religion of England from 1536. The vast majority of the population adhered to it, though this proportion was decreasing by the 1700s and 1800s.
+* Various '''Non-Conformist''' groups, such as '''Methodists''' 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 Catholics''' remained present in England after the split between Rome and the Church of England. They were heavily persecuted and their records extant until laws of 1778, 1791 and 1829 lifted discrimination against them,
+== Baptisms ==
+Baptism records usually contain:
+* Child's name
+* Father's name, and from 1813 his occupation and residence/address
+* Mother's name, but not her maiden name
+* Baptism date, and sometimes birth date, which can often 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.
+== Marriages ==
+Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their 20s. 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
+* 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 1754, the full names of two witnesses
+* After 1754, 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:
+# 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.
+# 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).
+== 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.
+== Bishop's Transcripts ==
+In 1530, King Henry VIII established the Church in England, also known as the Anglican Church, the State Church, or the Episcopal Church. A law passed in 1537 required ministers to record the baptisms, marriages, and burials that took place in their parishes. Priests recorded these events in registers and kept them at the parish level, which is the lowest level of authority in the Church of England. Within some parishes, chapelries were created to provide for the worship needs of the parishioner when the parish church was not easily accessible. Chapelries sometimes had the authority to perform baptisms, marriages, and burials, so they kept their own registers. Several parishes formed a deanery (presided over by a dean), several deaneries formed an archdeaconry (presided over by an archdeacon), and several archdeaconries formed a diocese (presided over by a bishop).
+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.
+Banns are proclamations of an intent to marry. After 1754, these banns were required to be read for three consecutive Sundays before a marriage so that anyone with reasons against the marriage could oppose it. Banns were read in both the bride’s parish and the groom’s parish. The vast majority of the English population belonged to the Church of England. Only since the mid 19th century have other religious groups made headway.
+Bishop's transcripts should be an exact copy of the parish register but they often are not.&nbsp; This may be because:
+*The minister was saving time and space&nbsp;by abreviating 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&nbsp;over the years.
+*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:
+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}}.)
+Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalogue under:
+England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records<br>
+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
+For Lincolnshire, many Bishop's transcripts begin as early as 1561.
+Archdeacon transcripts exist for many Kent County parishes--some as early as 1560.
+<br>
+== Parish Chest Records  ==
+[[Image:The Parish Chest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Parish Chest.jpg]] 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.
+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!
+{{details3|[[England and Wales Poor Law Records Pre-1834]] and [[England and Wales Poor Law Records 1834-1948]]|poor law records}}<br>
 == Church of England Records  ==
@@ Line 275: / Line 363: @@
 *[https://www.familysearch.org/ www.familysearch.org] Indexes to births/baptisms, 1620-1881; marriages 1619-1898;
 *[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/user/subscriptions.php www.thegenealogist.co.uk] ($) FHL Subscription (Free indexes and images at the FHL)
 *[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/bmdr/ www.bmdregisters.co.uk] ($) (Indexes free)
-==== Christenings (Baptisms)  ====
-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 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.
-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.
 What is in [[What information can I find in Church of England records?|England parish registers]]?
-==== Marriages  ====
-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.
-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.
-Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their twenties.
-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.
-There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry.
-'''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>
-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 FamilySearch Catalogue under:
-ENGLAND, [COUNTY NAME], [PARISH NAME] - CHURCH RECORDS
-'''By License.''' A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop or archdeacon (or their surrogate) of the diocese where the marriage was to be celebrated, for a license when:
-*Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the four or more weeks required for the publication of banns (at least 7 day's notice of their intention then the publication of the banns on the three Sundays preceding the marriage).
-*The bride and groom lived in different parishes.
-*A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists).
-'''By Special License.''' Where the parties wished the marriage to be celebrated at either (1) a time of day or night other than the usual time or (2) in a place other than their parish church, that is, in another church, chapel or other place (even if unconsecrated such as a hotel, home, park) then the Archbishop of Canterbury may grant a special licence authorizing a marriage in those circumstances.
-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:
-'''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.
-'''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.
-'''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.
-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.
 <br>
 '''Online Records'''
@@ Line 338: / Line 383: @@
 {{For|more about marriage allegations, bonds, and licenses for England and Wales|Marriage Allegations, Bonds and Licences in England and Wales}}
-==== Burials  ====
+<br>
-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.
-Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths.
-=== Bishop's Transcripts<br>  ===
-In 1530, King Henry VIII established the Church in England, also known as the Anglican Church, the State Church, or the Episcopal Church. A law passed in 1537 required ministers to record the baptisms, marriages, and burials that took place in their parishes. Priests recorded these events in registers and kept them at the parish level, which is the lowest level of authority in the Church of England. Within some parishes, chapelries were created to provide for the worship needs of the parishioner when the parish church was not easily accessible. Chapelries sometimes had the authority to perform baptisms, marriages, and burials, so they kept their own registers. Several parishes formed a deanery (presided over by a dean), several deaneries formed an archdeaconry (presided over by an archdeacon), and several archdeaconries formed a diocese (presided over by a bishop).
-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.
-Banns are proclamations of an intent to marry. After 1754, these banns were required to be read for three consecutive Sundays before a marriage so that anyone with reasons against the marriage could oppose it. Banns were read in both the bride’s parish and the groom’s parish. The vast majority of the English population belonged to the Church of England. Only since the mid 19th century have other religious groups made headway.
-Bishop's transcripts should be an exact copy of the parish register but they often are not.&nbsp; This may be because:
-*The minister was saving time and space&nbsp;by abreviating 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&nbsp;over the years.
-*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:
-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}}.)
-Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalogue under:
-England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records<br>
-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
-For Lincolnshire, many Bishop's transcripts begin as early as 1561.
-Archdeacon transcripts exist for many Kent County parishes--some as early as 1560.
-<br>
-=== Parish Chest Records  ===
-[[Image:The Parish Chest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Parish Chest.jpg]] 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.
-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!
-{{details3|[[England and Wales Poor Law Records Pre-1834]] and [[England and Wales Poor Law Records 1834-1948]]|poor law records}}
-=== Watch a Video Presentation on Church Records  ===
-To select from a group of short videos about Church records [https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/results.html?q=Church%20records%2Fvideo click here]. <br>
 == Indexes to Church Records  ==