Getting to the Roots of Your Family - RootsWeb - Ancestry.com

FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CLASS
Church of England Records & Indexes
The best wealth of genealogical records in England are the church records. Church Records in
England can be used from the 1500’s to the present. Some difficulties are locating and reading
the records. Many have been indexed and are available in various ways. This handout is to
help you identify these records and learn how to prepare for future research of these records.
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
The church in England is the Anglican Church. These records are the most complete and
available church records. They can be found in many ways: as original records in microfilm or
digital formats. Many have been transcribed into book form by Family History Societies. The
Family History Library has these records in book, fiche, computer and compact disc, and digital
records (more frequently added to www.familysearch.org). Many indexes have been produced.
CHURCH RECORDS POST-1813
The Church of England records are very good and were recorded on a form. These forms had
specific columns to help gather information.
• Three possible record books are Parish Registers, Bishop’s Transcripts, and
Archdeacon’s Transcripts.
• Baptism record shows: Place, date, child names, parent’s names, occupation of the
father, and residence. Sometimes a birth date and a mother’s maiden name were
recorded.
• Marriage records from 1813-June 1837: Place, date, the bride and groom, witnesses,
signatures of the couples. Record can show bachelor, spinster, widow, widower.
Whether by Banns or License.
• Marriage records from July-1837-present: (the same as 1813-June 1837) and adds
father’s name of bride and groom with residence at the time of marriages. Occupations
of the bride and groom and their father’s occupation
• Burials: Name, age, residence
• Other: See below under Other Church Records
CHURCH RECORDS PRE-1813
The Church of England records are very good and were recorded on a form. These forms had
specific columns to help gather information.
• Three possible record books are Parish Registers, Bishop’s Transcripts, and
Archdeacon’s Transcripts.
• Baptism: name of child, names of father and mother. Date and place. Sometimes
occupation of the father, residence, birth date.
• Marriage 1754-1812: on a preprinted form or written in a book. Place, date, names of
the bride and groom, witnesses, signatures of the couples. Can have marital status
listed as a bachelor, spinster, widow, widower. Whether marriage was by Banns or
License. Sometimes groom’s occupation.
• Marriage pre-1754: Place, date, names of the bride and groom. Can have marital status
listed as a bachelor, spinster, widow, widower. Whether marriage was by Banns or
License. Sometimes groom’s occupation.