England, Kent, Parish Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The first of these collections consists of Parish Registers for the County of Kent. The records contain baptisms, marriages, and deaths for parishes throughout Kent. Availability of records vary by year and locality.

The second collection consists of Bishop's Transcripts for the County of Kent. The records contain yearly summaries of baptisms, marriages, and deaths for parishes throughout Kent. Availability of the records varies by year and locality, and most submissions end by the year 1900.

These projects are part of an agreement with the Centre for Kentish to digitize and publish our microfilm holdings. The images have all been scanned and delivered. We will be creating waypoint data with the help of the archive, we will publish images for FamilySearch Members and deliver the data to the archive as they are implementing the "Reading Room Solution".

Dartford Deanery
Beckenham see Beckenham St George, Kent          Bromley Library and Archive Bromley see Bromley St Peter and St Paul, Kent      Bromley Library and Archive Charlton                                                                 Greenwich Heritage Centre Greenwich                                                              Greenwich Heritage Centre Chislehurst, Kent                                                     Bromley Library and Archive Chelsfield, Kent                                                       Bromley Library and Archive Foots Cray, Kent                                                    Bexley Libraries and Archives St Mary Cray, Kent                                                Bromley Library and Archive St Pauls Cray                                                          Bromley Library and Archive North Cray, Kent                                                    Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre Cudham, Kent                                                        Bromley Library and Archive Dartford, Kent                                                        Medway Archives online parish register images Deptford                                                                London Metropolitan Archives Erith, Kent                                                            Bexley Libraries and Archives Eltham St John the Baptist, Kent Farnborough, Kent                                                Bromley Library and Archive East Greenwich                                                    London Metropolitan Archives/Greenwich Archives Horton Kirby, Kent                                               Medway Archives online parish register images Lee see Lewisham St Mary, Kent                         Lewisham Archives Lewisham Lewisham St Mary, Kent                      Lewisham Archives Lullingstone, Kent Plumsted                                                              Greenwich Heritage Centre Sutton at Hone, Kent                                           Medway Archives online parish register images East Wickham, Kent West Wickham, Kent                                           Surrey History Centre Wilmington, Kent                                                  Medway Archives online parish register images Woolwich

Malling Deanery
Addington, Kent

Allington, Kent

Ashurst, Kent

East Barming, Kent

West Barming prior to church closure and merger with Nettlestead, Kent

Bidborough, Kent

Birling, Kent

Brenchley, Kent

Capel, Kent

Cowden, Kent

Ditton, Kent

Edenbridge, Kent

West Farleigh, Kent

Hadlow, Kent

Horsmonden, Kent

Kemsing, Kent

Leybourne, Kent

Lamberhurst, Kent

Leigh, Kent

West Malling, Kent

Mereworth, Kent

Nettlestead, Kent

Offham, Kent

Paddlesworth (near Snodland), Kent

West Peckham, Kent

Pembury, Kent

Ryarsh, Kent

Seal, Kent

Shipbourne, Kent

Speldhurst, Kent

Teston, Kent

Trottiscliffe, Kent

Tudeley, Kent

Tonbridge, Kent

Wateringbury, Kent

Westerham, Kent

Yalding, Kent

Rochester Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices.

Medway Archives online parish register images are available for the parishes in this deanery which also offers subsequent parish development in the Medway Town parishes

Hoo Allhallows, Kent

Ash near Wrotham

Aylesford, Kent

Burham, Kent Chalk, Kent Chatham, Kent Cobham, Kent Cookstone Cowling Denton (near Gravesend), Kent Fawkham, Kent Frindsbury, Kent Gravesend parishes Halling, Kent High Halstow, Kent Hartley, Kent Higham, Kent

St Mary Hoo, Kent Kingsdown, Kent Longfield, Kent Luddesdown, Kent Rochester St Margaret, Kent and other Rochester parishes Milton, near Gravesend Merston Nutsted Rochester St Nicholas with St Clement, Kent Ridley, Kent Shorne, Kent Snodland, Kent Southfleet, Kent Stoke, Kent Stone, near Dartford Stroud Swanscombe, Kent and Woldham.

Shoreham Deanery
This deanery was a peculiar of the Archbishop Of Canterbury.

Bexley, Kent Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre

Brasted, Kent

Chevening, Kent

Chiddingstone, Kent

Cliffe at Hoo, Kent

Crayford, Kent Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre

Darenth, Kent

Downe, Kent Bromley Library and Archive

Eynsford, Kent

East Farleigh, Kent

Farningham, Kent

Gillingham (see Medway Archives for deposited records)

Halstead, Kent

Hayes, Kent Bromley Library and Archive

Hever, Kent

Hunton, Kent

Grain, Kent Medway Archives online images are available

Ifield, Kent

Ightham, Kent

Keston, Kent ( Bromley Library and Archives Service)

Knockholt, Kent

East Malling, Kent

Meopham, Kent

Orpington, Kent (Bromley Library and Archive Service)

Otford, Kent

East Peckham, Kent

Penshurst, Kent

Plaxtol, Kent

Sevenoaks, Kent and subsequent parish development

Shoreham, Kent

Stansted, Kent

Sundridge, Kent

Wrotham, Kent

Bridge Deanery
Adisham Ash, near Sandwich Beaksborne Boughton Aluph Barham Bishopsborne Bridge Brooke Challock Chartham Chilham Chillenden, Crundal Elmstone Godmersham Gunston Upper Hardres Ickham Kingston Littleborne Molash Nonington Patricksborne Petham Preston, near Fordwich Staple Stelling Stodmarsh Sturmouth Waltham Wickhambreaux Wimlingswold Wingham Wye.

Canterbury Deanery
St. Alphage, All Saints St. Andrew St. George St. Margaret St. Mary Bredin St. Mary Bredman St. Mary Burgate St. Mary Northgate St. Mildred St. Paul Canterbury St. Peter Canterbury Blean St. Martin, Near Canterbury St. Dunstan, Milton, Fordwich, Hackington Harbledown, St. Michael and All Angels Harbledown, St. Nicholas Leper Hospital seeHarbledown, Kent Lower Hardres Nackington Sturry Thanington Westgate, near Canterbury.

Charing Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices. Refer to the parish pages for linked information about these using England Jurisdictions 1851 and A Church near You website. Ashford, Kent Benenden, Kent Bethersden, Kent Biddenden, Kent Boughton Malherbe, Kent Charing, Kent Great Chart, Kent Little Chart, Kent Cranbrook, Kent Eastwell, Kent Egerton, Kent Frittenden, Kent High Halden, Kent Hawkhurst, Kent Headcorn, Kent Hothfield, Kent Kennington, Kent Newenden, Kent Pluckley, Kent Rolvenden, Kent Sandhurst, Kent Smarden, Kent Tenterden, Kent Westwell, Kent

Dover Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices. Refer to the parish pages for linked information about these using England Jurisdictions 1851 and A Church near You website. Alkham, Kent Bewsfield alias Whitfield see Whitfield, Kent Buckland near Dover, Kent Capel, near Folkestone see Capel, Kent Charlton by Dover, Kent Cheriton, Kent Cliffe, near Dover see St Margaret at Cliffe, Kent Dover St James the Apostle, Kent Dover St Mary the Virgin, Kent Ewell Folkestone Christ Church, Kent Folkestone St Mary and St Eanswythe, Kent Guston, Kent Hawkinge, Kent Hougham, Kent Lydden, Kent Newington near Hythe see Newington next Hythe, Kent Polton River, Kent Swingfield, Kent

Elham Deanery
Acrise Bircholt Braborne Denton, near Elham Elham Elmsted Hastingligh Hythe Horton Monks Lyminge Postling Paddlesworth near Dover Saltwoood Stanford Stowting Wooton

Lympne Deanery
Aldington Appledore Bilsington Blackmanstone Bonnington Brenzett Brookland Burmarsh Dymchurch Eastbridge Ebeney Fairfield Hurst Hinxhill West Hythe Hope Ivychurch Kenarton, Kingsnorth Lydd Lympne St. Mary near Romney Mersham Midley Newchurch Orgarswick Orlestone New and Old Romney Ruckinge Sellindge Sevington Shadoxhurst Smeeth Snargate Snave Stone in Oxney Warehorne Wilsborough Wittersham Woodchurch

Ospringe Deanery
Badlemere Buckland, near Faversham Boughton Blean Davington Doddington Easling Faversham Goodnestone near Faversham Harty Graveney with Goodnestone Hernhill Leveland Linsted Luddenham Newnham Norton Ore Ospringe Preston, near Faversham Otterden Selling Sheldwich Stallisfield Stone, near Faversham Tenham Throwley

Sandwich Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices. Refer to the parish pages for linked information about these using England Jurisdictions 1851 and A Church near You website.

Barson Betteshanger, Kent Coldred, Kent Deal see Deal, Kent and Deal St Andrew, Kent Deal St George, Kent Eastry, Kent Eythorne, Kent Ham, Kent Knolton East Langdon, Kent West Langdon, Kent Great Mongeham, Kent Little Mongeham, Kent Norborne Ringwold see Ringwould, Kent Ripple, Kent Sandwich St Clement, Kent Sandwich St Mary, Kent Sandwich St Peter, Kent Shebbertswold (old Diocesan record spelling) Shepherdswell (sometimes Sibberstwold) see Sibertswold, Kent Sholden, Kent Stonar, Kent Sutton, near Dover Tilmanstone, Kent Waldershare, Kent Walmer see Walmer, Kent Walmer The Church of St Mary the Virgin,Kent Lower Walmer St Saviour,Kent Woodnesborough, Kent Worde

Sittingbourne Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices. Refer to the parish pages for linked information about these using England Jurisdictions 1851 and A Church near You website.

Bapchild, Kent Bicknor, Kent Bobbing, Kent Borden, Kent Bredgar, Kent Eastchurch, Kent Elmley, Kent Lower Halstow, Kent Hartlip, Kent Iwade, Kent Kingsdown, Kent near Sittingbourne Leysdown, Kent Milstead, Kent

Milton, Kent near Sittingbourne Minster in Sheppey, Kent Murston, Kent Newington next Sittingbourne, Kent Rainham, Kent Rodmersham, Kent Sittingbourne, Kent and subsequent parish development Stockbury, Kent Tonge, Kent Tunstall, Kent Upchurch, Kent Warden, Kent Wichling, Kent

Sutton Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices. Refer to the parish pages for linked information about these using England Jurisdictions 1851 and A Church near You website.

Boxley, Kent Bredhurst, Kent Broomfield, Kent Bearstead, Kent Boughton Monchelsea, Kent Chart Sutton, Kent Detling, Kent Frinsted, Kent Goudhurst, Kent Harrietsham, Kent Hollingbourne, Kent Hucking, Kent Langley, Kent Leeds, Kent Lenham, Kent Linton, Kent Loose, Kent Maidstone parishes development in the county town Marden, Kent Otham, Kent Staplehurst, Kent East Sutton, Kent Sutton Valence, Kent Thurnham, Kent Ulcombe, Kent Wormshill, Kent

Westbere Deanery
The following parishes are described in Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent as forming this deanery of the diocese; subsequent deanery reorganisations have taken place and the modern parishes are grouped in united benefices. Refer to the parish pages for linked information about these using England Jurisdictions 1851 and A Church near You website.

Birchington in Thanet, seeBirchington, Kent Chislet, Kent Herne, Kent Hoath, Kent Margate St John the Baptist, Kent St Laurence in Thanet, Kent (Ramsgate) Minster in Thanet, Kent Monkton, Kent St Nicholas at Wade, Kent St Peter in Thanet, Kent Sarre see St Nicholas at Wade, Kent Reculver, Kent Seasalter, Kent Swalecliffe, Kent Westbere, Kent Whitstable, Kent Wood alias Woodchurch, in Thanet a chapel of ease in Birchington, Kent Ancient Parish

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in Baptism records generally contain the following information:




 * Child's Christian Name
 * Mother's Christian Name
 * Mother's Maiden Name
 * Father's Christian Name
 * Father's Occupation
 * Father's Duality Trade or Profession
 * When baptism was performed

The key genealogical facts found in marriage records may contain the following information:






 * When marriage was performed
 * Groom's full name
 * Bride's full maiden name
 * Groom's age at marriage
 * Bride's age at marriage
 * Condition (Usually Bachelor (Groom) and Spinster (Bride))
 * Rank or Profession
 * Residence at the time of marriage
 * Groom's and Bride's Father's name and surname
 * Groom's and Bride's Mother's name
 * Rank or profession of both fathers

The key genealogical facts found in burial records may contain the following information:




 * Name of Deceased
 * Where died
 * Date of burial
 * Name of cemetery
 * Age at death
 * By whom the ceremony was performed

Record History
Bishop's Transcripts exist because of the Order in the Constitution of Canterbury (1597) which compels churchwardens to send within one month of Easter a copy of all baptisms, marriages and burial register entries in the parish register to the bishop. In 1603 it was stipulated that transcripts were to run from Lady Day (25 March).

The Diocese of Rochester Transcripts are arranged by parish and should be contemporary copies of the parish register entries sworn by the churchwardens to be " a true and accurate account". There is variation in performance of these duties and gaps and omissions are common. It is possible that the Transcript may contain entries not found in the parish register and for this reason transcripts should be read in conjunction with parish register where both records are available.

Transcripts prior to 1812 appear to have been destroyed although some survive. Within the Diocese of Rochester the practice of sending transcripts had lapsed by 1800 and few submissions were received. The survival of parish registers therefore may be the more effective means of locating events.

The later series from 1813 is on printed form.

There are two series of Bishop's Transcripts for the Diocese of Rochester held at Kent Archives, Maidstone.

The first series are transcripts up to the year 1812 and are found under reference RT1

The later series from 1813 are under reference RT2. The series were microfilmed at Kent Archives Maidstone in 1987 by the Genealogical Society of Utah. The process of forming entries in the catalogue for the Family History Library for this era of microfilm acquisition from England was often reliant on the information provided at the time of microfilming and accuracy of the resulting catalogue may be affected. It is advisable to check the Kent Archives catalogue which will include all years in the transcript series; microfilming was undertaken within a year range with a cut off date; later transcript years may exist which were not filmed.

The transcript series usually end within the year range for digital publication adopted by FamilySearch with respect to privacy and data protection.( see the privacy section at the foot of this page).

Related Websites
Kent Archives

Related Wiki Articles
England Church Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
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Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

"England, Kent, Bishop's Transcripts, 1560-1904." FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org). Kent Archives, Maidstone, England. FHL digital images, 68 digital folders. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Information about creating source citations for FamilySearch Historical Collections is listed in the wiki article Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.