New Hampshire Church History

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Church Records

Church History

Historical Background

Before 1900 the largest religious denominations in New Hampshire were the Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic churches. In early New Hampshire, the Congregational church predominated.

Ministers

• Carter, Nathan Franklin. The Native Ministry of New Hampshire. Concord, N.H.: Rumford Printing, 1906. (Family History Library book 974.2 D3c.) This book contains biographies of native-born clergy of the Protestant denominations. It often mentions the minister’s name as well as the names of his parents and spouse. It is well indexed.
• Lawrence, Robert F. The New Hampshire Churches. N.p.: Claremont Manufacturing, 1856. (Family History Library book 974.2 K2L; fiche 6046841.) This source comprises histories of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the state, with notices of other denominations. Included are names of ministers and dates of service. It also contains many interesting incidents connected with the first settlement of towns. The records are arranged by county and then towns within a county.

For a history of the Baptist Church, see:

Hurlin, William. The Baptists of New Hampshire. Manchester, N.H.: New Hampshire Baptist Convention, 1902. (FHL film 1697589 item 8.)

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Episcopal

The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
63 Green St.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 224-1914

• The diocesan archives at the above address has records of churches that have closed. It also contains bishops’ official acts, such as confirmation records.
• The New Hampshire Historical Society has the church records of several New Hampshire Episcopalian congregations, which are held in the archives.
• For records of open churches not at NHHS', contact the local church
• Inventory of the church archives of New Hampshire, Protestant Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire', e-book.

Roman Catholic

• French-Canadian Research Resources at the New Hampshire Historical Society: New Hampshire French-Canadian Catholic Parish Records by Town
• Inventory of the Roman Catholic Church Records in New Hampshire. Manchester, New Hampshire: Diocese of Manchester, 1938. Historical Records Survey. (Family History Librarybook 974.2 K2hs.)

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Diocese of Manchester
153 Ash Street
P.O. Box 310
Manchester, NH 03105
Phone: (603) 669-3100
Fax: (603) 669-0377

• Sacramental Records

In the Diocese of Manchester, each individual parish keeps records of baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths. These records are not centralized in the Diocese of Manchester. To contact the parishes in the State of New Hampshire, please utilize our online directory. Parishes that have been merged or unified with another parish are listed under closed churches and will indicate where the sacramental records are maintained (namely, in the unified or merged parish).

• Many Catholic marriage and baptismal records have been published, particularly for larger parishes. The New Hampshire Historical Society and the American-Canadian Genealogical Society have the best collections.
• As the Diocese of Manchester was not established until 1884, it is possible that some records may be maintained by predecessor dioceses (the Diocese of Portland, Maine or the Archdiocese of Boston).
• In addition, some limited sacramental records are maintained in the Diocese of Manchester archives. See the Archives Listing for a records held. The Archives Office makes its materials available to researchers within the parameters of canon law, and state and federal laws, and diocesan policy. Contact the Archives Office for more information.

The diocese includes the counties of: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coös, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford and Sullivan

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