Basics on parish registers (England and Wales)

• Introduction of parish registers
• Bishops' Transcripts (BTs)
• Format of parish registers 
• Hardwicke's Marriage Act
• Rose's Act
• How to find parish registers
• How SAG can help

Introduction of parish registers

Thomas Cromwell, Vicar-General to Henry VIII, decreed that churches should keep records of baptisms, burials and marriages from 5 September 1538. So it's sometimes possible for researchers to trace their ancestors to that date back using such records. In some parishes earlier church records were also maintained. Unfortunately the 1538 decree did not state how the records should be stored and most were written on loose sheets. It was not until 1597 that the concept of recording entries in a bound register was introduced and at that time the earlier loose records were transcribed into the new registers. In the intervening period, of course, many such sheets had been mislaid and so it's not uncommon for parishes to have records dating only from 1597.

Bishop's Transcripts (BTs)

The 1597 decree also required the minister to send an annual return of his parish register to his bishop. So from 1598 a second copy - known as a Bishop's Transcript or BT - may often be found. In some cases the original register has not survived but the annual returns or BTs are available; the reverse can also apply.

Format of parish registers

Parish registers dating from the 16th century were free form entries with baptisms, marriages and burials all recorded in the one book or general register. Some ministers were extremely diligent in recording details, others evidently were more lax and many were almost illiterate by today's standards, recording surnames and given names in a haphazard or phonetic manner. Many early registers were recorded in Latin, but this practice had died out by the early 18th century.

Hardwicke's Marriage Act

In 1754, Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act introduced changes to the way in which marriages were recorded. Separate registers of marriages were to be kept, with printed pages recording specific information. From this date the signatures of witnesses to the marriage are included and the 'condition' or marital status of the two parties to the marriage are stated. Prior to 1754 a marriage record might simply state "Robert Bridge and Jane Day were married this day, 4th April 1702". A similar entry after 1754 would more likely read: "Robert Bridge of the parish of Durston, bachelor, and Jane Day of this parish, spinster, were married by banns on 4 April 1758 by me, Thomas Essex, officiating minister of the parish of Combe St Michael."

Both parties to the marriage together with at least two witnesses would then sign the register. If consent were required for either party to marry this would also be recorded. Separate registers of banns (the reading out in church on three successive Sundays preceding the marriage of the couple's intention to marry) were also maintained. If couples did not want this publicity they could choose to marry by licence.

Rose's Act

In 1812, Rose's Act changed the free-form method of recording baptisms and burials, introducing separate registers with printed forms for these events. From 1813 baptisms show the name of the child, the date of baptism, the names of the parents (not normally mother's maiden name), their abode and the occupation of the father. The date of birth of the child is not normally recorded although it will sometimes be found, especially if the individual was no longer an infant when baptised. Burial registers from 1813 will show the deceased's name, abode, occupation and age. Additional identifying information is sometimes recorded by ministers but this tends to be the exception rather than the rule.

How to find parish registers

The genealogical and historical value of parish registers has meant that these are now highly prized records and well maintained. Most original registers are now in the custody of the local county record office although some are retained by the church. Many registers have been transcribed and indexed or copied.

The Genealogical Society of Utah (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has been particularly active in microfilming English parish registers. Baptisms and marriages from many of these registers have been extracted into the International Genealogical Index produced by the GSU. Microfilms of the registers or BTs from which any relevant entries were taken should always be inspected, to check the transcription and see whether any other conclusions can be drawn from the entry or its context. The reference of such films can be identified from the index and the films may be viewed at SAG using our Family History Library service - see below.

A great number of parish registers have been transcribed, indexed and published in book form by parish register societies and other interested bodies. As with all aspects of British research, useful links for finding more information on church records in your ancestral area may be found at www.genuki.org.uk.

A good reference work is The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers edited by Cecil Humphery-Smith (latest edition 2003) which provides details of extant parish registers and where copies of them and any known indexes may be consulted for each county of England, Wales and Scotland. A copy of this Atlas is held in our library and it is also usually on sale in our bookshop.

How SAG can help

We have a fine collection of printed parish registers. These are supplemented by microfiche copies of original parish registers for many counties of England, and by the IGI (see above) which is is available online. Microfilms referred to in the IGI may be ordered in for viewing at SAG, using our Family History Library service.

The collections of SAG should always be checked before engaging someone overseas to undertake a search of parish registers on your behalf. Our library catalogue can be checked online.