(This page's most recent update is September 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 a great resource as well. In the BMD Records section of this website, there are about 15,000 collections of civil records that are available online. Yes, that’s a lot, but we need to also search church records as well.
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 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 links listed 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.
California Church Records
- Alameda, First Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1853-1949
- Berkeley, St. Clement’s Episcopal Church Marriage Records, 1917-1985
- Berkeley, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church Historical Record, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California
- California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988
- California, Church Records, 1864-1985
- California, Records of the American Missionary Association (Congregational) among the Chinese
- Carmel, Catholic Church. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Extracts of Church Records, 1770-1899
- Colusa, Catholic Church. Our Lady of Lourdes Church Records, 1870-1950
- Early California Population Project
- El Centro, Catholic Church. St. Mary’s Parish Records (San Diego, Calif.), 1938-1970
- Fresno, Fresno Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1888-1921
- Graton, Christian Science Church List of Members of the Mother Church
- Healdsburg, Alexander Valley Community Church, Church History and Records, 1896-1964
- Healdsburg, St. Paul’s Church, Church Records, 1856-1977
- Huntington Park Ward – Huntington Park Stake Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family Album 1963
- Imperial, Catholic Church. San Antonio de Padua Parish Records, 1948-1970
- Lompoc, Catholic Church. La Purisima Concepcion Church Records, 1790-1852
- Los Angeles, Catholic Church. Plaza Church Baptismal Records, 1771-1873
- Montecito, All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1889-1988
- Montecito, Catholic Church. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Records, 1906-1988
- Napa, German Evangelical Lutheran Church Minutes, 1892-1897
- Oakland, First Congregational Church, Church Records, 1860-1947
- Oceanside, Catholic Church. St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Records (San Diego, Calif.), 1919-1971
- Orange County., Birth/Death/Marriage/Church Records & Cemetery Census
- San Bernardino, Catholic Church. San Salvador de Jurupa Extracts of Church Records, 1852-1893
- San Diego, Catholic Church. Mission San Diego de Alcalá Parish Records (San Diego, Calif.), 1771-1904
- San Diego, Catholic Church. San Diego de Alcala Mission Registro misional, 1776-1880
- San Diego, Catholic Church. St. Joseph Parish Records (San Diego, Calif.), 1856-1970
- San Francisco, First Evangelical and Reformed Church, Church Records and Minutes, 1910-1954
- San Francisco, Howard Street Methodist Episcopal Church History
- San Gabriel, San Gabriel Mission Baptismal Records of San Gabriel Mission (1771-1864) and Plaza Church, Los Angeles (1826-1873)
- San Juan Capistrano Mission Baptisms, 1854 through 1910, Mission San Juan Capistrano, California
- San Luis Rey, Catholic Church. Mission San Luis Rey Parish Records (San Diego, Calif.), 1869-1970
- Santa Barbara, Catholic Church. Mission Santa Barbara Church Records, ca. 1783-1847
- Santa Barbara, Catholic Church. Mission Santa Barbara Extracts of Church Records, 1782-1848
- Santa Barbara, Catholic Church. Santa Inis Mission Church Records, ca. 1806-1917
- Santa Clara, Santa Clara Mission, Index to Baptismal Records, 1777-1855
- Santa Ynez, Catholic Church. Mission Santa Inés Extracts of Church Records, 1805-1917
- Shasta, Little Shasta Church Little Shasta School Register – Little Shasta Church – Congregational Records, Misc.
- Solano, Misión de San Francisco California: bautismos 1828-1839, Matrimonios 1834-1838, (5 defunciones)
- Ventura, Catholic Church. Mission San Buenaventura Extracts of Church Records, 1782-1896
- Ventura, Catholic Church. Mission San Buenaventura Mission Registers, 1782-1915
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!