The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is December 2024)
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Another underutilized genealogy resource is Church Records. We tend to focus our research on civil records but need to be aware that often church records pre-date civil records and are also a great resource. In the BMD Records section of this website, about 15,000 collections of civil records are available online. Yes, that’s a lot, but we also need to search church records.
What can we find in church or synagogue records? Here’s just a short list of what nuggets we can find:
- Baptisms and Christenings
- Marriages
- Deaths
- Burials
- Confirmations
- Membership lists
- Church Minutes
- Church Directories
- Transfer Letters
- Bar or Bat Mitzvahs
- Sunday School lists
- Church newsletters
In addition, many folks also documented important events in family bibles, so they need to be searched as well if the event information has been digitized.
Here are a couple of articles that you might find useful:
- U.S. Church Records Research Guide
- United States Church Records
- A Genealogist’s Guide to Using Catholic Records in Genealogy Research
There is a large number of Free Online Church Record collections; the links for the state are below:
Note: Some of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Arkansas Church Records
- Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1812-1965
- Arkansas Genealogical Records, Vol. 71
- Arkansas, Church Marriages, 1860-1976
- Arkansas, Church Records, 1922-1977
- Arkansas, Bentonville Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1870-1917
- Arkansas, Brightwater Memorial Methodist Church Membership Register, 1896-1978
- Arkansas, Columbia Baptist Association Proceedings of the Annual Session, 10th-46th, 1862-1898
- Arkansas, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Minutes
- Arkansas, Mason Valley Baptist Church, Church Records, ca. 1879-1949
- Arkansas, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Little Rock Conference. Camden District. El Dorado Charge Quarterly Conference Record Book, 1880-1920
- Arkansas, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Little Rock Conference. Prescott District Church Records, 1883-1916
- Arkansas, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Little Rock Conference. Prescott District. Carolina Charge Church Conference Record, 1886-1916
- Arkansas, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Excerpts from the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Records, Benton County, Arkansas, 1906-1945
- Arkansas, St. Francis County Credentials for Ministers and Priests, V. A, 1947-1969
- Ashley County, Church Registers
- Ashley County, Promised Land Baptist Church of Christ Church Records, 1863-1902
- Atlanta, Atlanta Baptist Church, Church Records, 1893-1976
- Atlanta, Atlanta Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday School Record, 1884-1887, 1892-1895
- Barren Fork, Big Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1865-1879
- Baxter County, Mountain Home Baptist Church Membership List and Conference Minutes, 1883-1938
- Berryville, First Baptist Church, Church Records 1891-1960
- Billingsley, Billingsley Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1885-1925
- Booneville, Porter Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1907-1944
- Boonsboro, Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1868-1905
- Cabot, Ebenezer Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1883-1914
- Calhoun County, Campground Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1854-1947
- Calhoun, Baptist Church of Christ at Antioch Church Records, 1850-1873
- Calico Rock, United Methodist Church, Church Records, 1905-1995
- Camden, Congregation Beth El Emeth, Congregation Records, 1870-1880
- Camden, First Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Church Records 1880-1923
- Cane Hill, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Minutes, 1861-1921
- Cane Hill, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Session Minutes 1828-1843
- Caney, Hot Spring County, Caney Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1897-1936
- Carroll County, United Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings, 1890-1897
- Charleston, First Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Membership Lists, 1894-1956
- Chicot County, Lake Village Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1900-1915
- Clarendon, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1869-1920
- Clarendon, Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Records, 1884-1937
- Clarendon, Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1870-1921
- Cleburne County, Goodloe Methodist Church, Church Records, 1880-1947
- Columbia County, Barge’s Chapel Church Register, 1873-1943
- Columbia County, Beech Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1850-1939
- Columbia County, Ebenezer Methodist Church, Church Records, 1852-1918
- Columbia County, Ebenezer Methodist Church, Church Register, 1913-1916
- Columbia County, Lydesdale Methodist Protestant Church, Church Register, 1886-1934
- Columbia County, New Hope Baptist Church, Church Records, 1915-1937
- Columbia County, Victory Baptist Church, Church Records, 1890-1908
- Cornerville, Newton Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1859-1948
- Cornerville, Newtons Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1851-1901
- Crossett, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Church Records, 1859-1927
- De Queen, Missionary Baptist Church at Fairview Church Records, 1917-1950
- Delight, Antioch Church of Christ, Church Record 1833-1884
- Delight, Antioch Church of Christ, Church Record 1885-1916
- Dover, Piney Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1875-1942
- Drew County, Pleasant Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Records
- Emerson, Emerson Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1911-1950
- Fairbanks, Harrisons Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1896-1918
- Farmington, Bethel Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1875-1947
- Fort Smith, Sebastian, St Johns Episcopal Church, Christenings 1860-1886
- Fort Smith, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Church Records, 1930-1979
- Fort Smith, First Lutheran Church, Church Records, 1868-1929
- Fort Smith, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1860-1977
- Franceway, Franceway Baptist Church, Church Records, 1848-1879
- Franklin County, Gar Creek United Methodist Church Records
- Franklin County, Grenades Chapel United Methodist Church – 1, Church Records
- Franklin County, Grenades Chapel United Methodist Church – 2, Church Records
- Franklin County, Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Christ Church Records, 1870-1953
- Geneva, Geneva Baptist Church, Church Records, 1906-1921
- Grant County, Baptist Church of Christ at Ephesus Church Minutes, 1887-1957
- Grant County, Wofford’s Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Conference Records, 1886-1924
- Hagarville, Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1868-1950
- Hamburg, First Baptist Church, Church Records, 1910-1930
- Harrison, Christian Church Official Record, 1888-1904
- Hector, Rocksprings Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1880-1914
- Hermitage, Missionary Baptist Church of Christ at Antioch Church Records, 1874-1937
- Horatio, Walnut Springs Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Records, 1895-1951
- Hot Spring County, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1847-1917
- Hot Spring County, Clear Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Records, 1850-1949
- Hot Spring County, Damascus Baptist Church, Church Records, 1905-1938
- Hot Spring County, De Roche Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1847-1924
- Iuka, Iuka Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Records, ca. 1902-1959
- Izard County, Corinth Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1890-1955
- Jackson County, Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Church Records, 1899-1949
- Johnson County, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Bethlehem Society Church Register, 1881-1921
- Junction City, Scotland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1905-1972
- Kingsland, Camp Springs Methodist Church History
- Kingston, New Hope Primitive Baptist Church of Christ Membership and Minutes, 1832-1957
- Lafayette County, Red River Baptist Church, Church Records, 1918-1976
- Little River County, Enon Primitive Baptist Church Minutes, 1894-1910 and 1925-1945
- Little Rock, Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1878-1932
- Logan County, Good Hope Baptist Church, Church Records, 1874-1904
- Lonoke County, Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1876-1955
- Lonoke County, Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1891-1926
- Lonoke, Lonoke Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1889-1936
- Magnolia, Baptist Church at Magnolia Church Records, 1867-1882
- Magnolia, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Church Records, 1866-1937
- Magnolia, Corinth Baptist Church List of Charter Members and Minutes, 1886-1900
- Magnolia, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1907-1964
- Malvern, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1882-1928
- Marcella, Marcella Baptist Church, Church Records, 1901-1961
- Marshall, Missionary Baptist Church of Canaan Minutes of Meetings and Membership Lists, 1887-1908
- Marvell, First Baptist Church, Church Records, 1879-1937
- Marvell, Salem Baptist Church, Church Records, 1876-1938
- Midway, Midway Baptist Church, Church Records, 1902-1918
- Mountain View, Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1912-1942
- Mountain View, First United Methodist Church, Church Records, 1881-1966
- Nevada Co., Boughton Baptist Church, Church Records, 1893-1935
- Newport, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1859-1944
- Ouachita County, Hawkins Church, Church Records 1886-1913
- Ouachita County, Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Church Records 1906-1958
- Oxford, Oxford Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1886-1933
- Palestine, Palestine Congregation, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records 1870-1912
- Palestine, Palestine Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records 1886-1951
- Palmyra, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Church Records, 1861-1966
- Pearson, Palestine Church, Church Records, 1877-1934
- Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1884-1945
- Pope County, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records 1868-1951
- Poyen, First Missionary Baptist Church, Church Records, 1890-1964
- Prairie Grove, Prairie Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1850-1947
- Prattsville, Harmony Baptist Church, Church Records, 1868-1935
- Quitman, Nazareth Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1878-1914
- Randolph County Church Records
- Rushing, Antioch Baptist Church, Church Records, 1890-1938
- Russellville, Center Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1879-1965
- Russellville, Russellville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1871-1933
- Russellville, Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1867-1951
- Sebastian County, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Church Record, 1922-1977
- Sebastian, Church of Christ Church Register and Records
- Sevier Co., Wofford Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Records, 1904-1939
- Sevier County, Mount Ida Methodist Church, Church Records, 1881-1962
- Sevier County, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Church Records, 1889-1915
- Sevier County, Oak Hill Baptist Church, Church Records, 1886-1935
- Sevier County, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Church Records, 1858-1976
- Springdale, Shiloh Church of Regular Baptists Church Journals, 1845-1836
- Stamps, First Baptist Church, History
- Strawberry, Milligan’s Camp Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1870-1931
- Toledo, Toledo Methodist Episcopal Church Quarterly Conference Records, 1884-1895
- Van Buren, Dripping Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1867-1953
- Waldo, Waldo Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Records, ca. 1842-1955, 1842-1955
- Warren, First Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Financial Accounts, 1919-1973
- Warren, Primitive Baptist Church of Harmony Church Records, 1845-1915
- White County, Independence Baptist Church, Church Records
- White County, Independence Baptist Church, Church Records, 1847-1949
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!