What Are Parish Registers?

Local and Family History A-Z > Parish Registers

Parish registers record baptisms, marriages and burials in Anglican parish churches. These registers began in 1538, though very few of the early registers survive. Before the 1850s, most baptisms, marriages and burials were recorded in these Anglican registers. As civil registration did not begin until 1837, these registers are a key source of information about births, marriages and deaths before then. For further details see the Family Records Centre's Religious records pages See also Where can I find parish registers?

Page last updated: 24th February 2006

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