R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Virginia
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Law And Legislation
Maps
Military Records
Minorities
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

CHURCH RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

Before 1900, the largest religious groups in Virginia were the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches. The Family History Library has histories of the Baptist, Christian, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed, United Brethren, and other groups.

The Family History Library also has many parish records of the Episcopal Church and some church records for smaller denominations, notably minutes of various Baptist conferences, Society of Friends meeting minutes, and German Reformed and Lutheran parish registers.

The Library of Virginia also has many church records. These are described in:

Clark, Jewell T., and Elizabeth T. Long. A Guide to Church Records in the Archives Branch, Virginia State Library. Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1981. (FHL book 975.5 K23c; computer number 149211.) Includes the history, location, and record inventory of 11 denominations and congregations.

Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located, or read more about them in the following publications.


BaptistLook this term up in the glossary.

Virginia Baptist Historical Society
Boatwright Memorial Library
P.O. Box 34
University of Richmond
Richmond, VA 23173
Telephone: 804-289-8434 (by appointment only)

EpiscopalLook this term up in the glossary.

Before the American Revolution, the state church of Virginia was the Episcopal Church. Besides keeping parish registers, the church kept many records of a civil nature in their vestry books. In many instances, parish registers containing baptism, marriage, and death records have not survived when vestry books have.

Some early parish registers are incomplete or missing. Those still existing are available at the Library of Virginia and the Family History Library. Many have been published.

The Church of EnglandLook this term up in the glossary. (called the Anglican and then the Protestant Episcopal Church) was the established church in Virginia from 1624 to 1786. You may need to study parish boundaries to determine which parish an ancestor attended. There are three excellent sources, which include maps, written by Charles Francis Cocke that can help you identify parish boundaries. These are listed in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under the author's name.

The following sources also have information on churches, officials, and members of the Church of England:

Axelson, Edith F. A Guide to Episcopal Church Records in Virginia. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing, 1988. (FHL book 975.5 K27a; computer number 506232.) Includes parish register and vestry book inventories.

Goodwin, Edward L. The Colonial Church in Virginia. Milwaukee: Morehouse Pub., 1927. (FHL book 975.5 K2g; fiche 6088014; computer number 217820.) The appendix includes biographical sketches of the clergy.

Meade, William. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. 1857. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1966. (FHL book 975.5 K2m 1966, fiche 6087788-89; computer number 56062; film 896897, computer number 56082 .) Mostly histories of early parishes but includes 6,900 names of individuals.


HuguenotLook this term up in the glossary.

See The Huguenot in the “Periodicals” section of this outline.


MethodistLook this term up in the glossary. and Methodist EpiscopalLook this term up in the glossary.

The Library of Virginia has some Methodist church records in manuscript form and some on microfilm. See the guide by Jewell Clark mentioned previously.


PresbyterianLook this term up in the glossary.

Presbyterian Church Archives
Union Theological Seminary in Virginia
3401 Brook Road
Richmond, VA 23227
Telephone: 804-355-0671
Fax: 804-355-3919

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