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-dated 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 shortlist 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 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, please make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
(Updated October 2021):
- Bellefonte, Catholic Church. Saint Helena Church Records, 1936-1978
- Belvedere, Catholic Church. Our Mother of Mercy Church Records, 1929-1972
- Bethel, Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1821-1939
- Blackbird, Old Union Methodist Episcopal Church, 1804-1906
- Blades, Epworth and Asbury Church, Record, 1908-1935
- Brandywine Hundred, Wilmington, Chester-Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church Records and Index, 1875-1913
- Bridgeville, Bridgeville Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church Register and Index, 1879-1939
- Bridgeville, St. Mary’s Chapel Register, 1890-1939
- Bridgeville, Union Methodist Episcopal Church Record of pastors and official members, 1898-1939, also marriages, 1912-1939; alphabetical Record of members
- Broad Creek, Christ Church Register, 1853-1865, 1835-1887
- Cannon, Methodist Protestant Church Register, 1905-1939
- Christiana, Christiana and Salem Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1910-1921
- Christiana, Christiana Methodist Episcopal Church Records and Index, 1827-1913
- Christiana, Records of Christiana, Salem, Ebenezer, Red Lion, Glasgow, Methodist Episcopal Churches, 1867-1910
- Clarksville, St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1907-1914
- Claymont, Catholic Church. Holy Rosary Church Records, 1922-1975, 1922-1975
- Claymont, Church of Atonement Index to Records and Minute Book of Quarterly Conference Record, 1870-1889
- Dagsboro, Prince George Church Records, 1790-1842, 1914
- Delaware Baptisms, 1697-1886
- Delaware City, Catholic Church. Saint Paul Church Records, 1855-1991
- Delaware, Church Deaths, 1750-1886
- Delaware, Church Records, 1707-1939
- Delmar, First Methodist Church, Register and Index,1869-1941
- Delmar, Mount Olive Methodist Protestant Church, Register and index, 1889-1941
- Dover, Holy Cross Catholic Church Records, 1869-1984
- Ellendale, Ellendale Methodist Episcopal Church Records and Index, 1907-1940
- Farmington, Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1879-1914
- Felton, Methodist Episcopal Church Records,1865-1914
- Frankford, Blackwater Presbyterian Church Records, 1778-1828
- Frankford, Methodist Episcopal Church Records,1868-1900
- Frederica, Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1780-1914
- Georgetown, St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church Records, 1840-1914
- Georgetown, Methodist Episcopal Church. Georgetown Circuit Records, 1892-1914
- Georgetown, Methodist Episcopal Church. Zoar Circuit Register, 1897-1913
- Georgetown, Methodist Protestant Church Register, 1898-1916
- Georgetown, Presbyterian Church Minutes of sessions, 1859-1913
- Georgetown, Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church Register 1858-1915
- Glasgow, Bethel and Glasgow Methodist Episcopal Charge, Records and Index, 1872-1893
- Glasgow, Glasgow Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1892-1913
- Glasgow, Pencader Presbyterian Church, Minutes of the Session 1900-1940
- Greenville, Catholic Church. St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church Records, 1846-1991
- Greenwood, Methodist Episcopal Church. Greenwood Circuit Register, 1851-1913
- Greenwood, Methodist Protestant Church. Greenwood Circuit Register, 1838-1931
- Gumboro, Gumboro Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1891-1937
- Harbeson, Harbeson Circuit Methodist Protestant Church, Register and Index 1897-1940
- Harrington, Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1865-1914
- Harrington, Methodist Protestant Church Records, 1838-1911
- Harrington, Methodist Protestant Church Records, 1880-1917
- Hockessin, Catholic Church. Saint Mary of the Assumption Church Records, 1881-1991
- Hockessin, Hockessin Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records and Index, 1881-1917
- Houston, Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1892-1936
- Kent County, Duck Creek Monthly Meeting Quaker Records : Duck Creek Monthly Meeting
- Kent County, Lawes Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1888-1921
- Kirkwood, Kirkwood Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1911-1915
- Laurel, Centenary Methodist Church Record books as to membership, baptisms, marriages, and etc.
- Laurel, Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1879-1914
- Laurel, Mt. Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1893-1925
- Laurel, St. Phillips Protestant Episcopal Church Register, 1889-1911
- Lewes, Groome Memorial Methodist Protestant Church, Register and Index 1908-1940
- Lewes, Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1860-1933
- Lewes, Presbyterian Church Records of deaths, marriages, and baptisms, 1737-1856
- Lewes, Presbyterian Church Session minutes, 1756-1848
- Lewes, St. Peters Protestant Episcopal Church Minutes 1708 to 1797
- Lewes, St. Peters Protestant Episcopal Church Records, 1728-1925
- Lincoln, Lincoln Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church Register and Index, 1869-1939
- Mermaid, Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church Records and Index, 1897-1913
- Middletown, Catholic Church. Saint Joseph Church Records, 1746-1962
- Milford, Catholic Church. St. John the Apostle Church Records, 1911-1970
- Milford, Christ Church Register, 1880-1914
- Milford, First Methodist Protestant Church Register and Index, 1910-1940
- Milford, Presbyterian Church Register, 1849-1888
- Millsboro, St. Mark’s Protestant Episcopal Church Records, 1848-1929
- Milton, First Methodist Protestant Church, Register and Index, 1874-1940
- Milton, Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1863-1910
- Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant and Newark Union Methodist Episcopal Records 1903-1913
- Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1838-1903
- Nassau, Nassau Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church Register
- New Castle County, Miscellaneous Church Records
- New Castle County, Cecil Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church, Records and Index, 1849-1869
- New Castle County, Presbyterian Church Records, 1796-1877
- New Castle County, Welsh Tract Baptist Meeting Records, 1701 to 1828
- New Castle, New Castle Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1839-1866
- New Castle, Catholic Church. Saint Peter Church Records, 1845-1991
- Newark, Catholic Church. Saint John the Baptist-Holy Angels Church Records, 1891-1971
- Newark, Christiana Presbyterian Church Records, 1781-1913
- Newark, Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church List of Baptisms, 1816-1933
- Newark, Village Presbyterian Church Records, 1835-1854
- Perryville, Catholic Church. Good Shepherd Church Records, 1871-1986
- Rehoboth, Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church Register and Index, 1909-1941
- Reliance, Gethsemane Methodist Protestant Church Register, 1852-1938
- Rockland, Mt. Lebanon Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1869-1914
- Roxanna, Methodist Episcopal Church. Roxanna Circuit Record, 1856-1912
- Seaford, Methodist Protestant Church Register, 1887-1914
- Seaford, Seaford Charge Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1896-1913
- Seaford, St. Johns Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1866-1920
- Seaford, St. Luke’s Protestant Episcopal Church Register, 1835-1919
- Smyrna, Asbury United Methodist Church Records
- Smyrna, Catholic Church. St. Polycarp Church Records, 1893-1966
- Sussex County, Miscellaneous Church Records
- Sussex County, Sound United Methodist Church Baptism Records
- Sussex County, Methodist Protestant Church. Sussex Circuit Records, 1865-1902
- Sussex County, Millwood Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1888-1915
- Sussex County, St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church Register, 1842-1857
- Wilmington, Holy Trinity or (Old Swedes) Church, Births or christenings, 1713-1799
- Wilmington, Society of Friends. Wilmington Monthly Meeting Church records, 1740-1938
- Wilmington, Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1788-1915
- Wilmington, Brandywine Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1857-1913
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Bishop’s Own Chapel Church Records, 1902-1943
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Christ our King Church Records, 1926-1964
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Sacred Heart Church Records, 1875-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Ann Church Records, 1870-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church Records, 1924-1972
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Elizabeth Church Records, 1908-1966
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Hedwig Church Records, 1891-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Joseph Church Records, 1882-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Patrick Church Records, 1881-1986
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Paul Church Records, 1869-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church Records, 1912-1962
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. Saint Thomas the Apostle Church Records, 1904-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church Records, 1857-1991
- Wilmington, Catholic Church. St. Peter’s Cathedral Church Records, 1796-1930
- Wilmington, Cookman Methodist Episcopal Church The Church Records, 1889-1933
- Wilmington, East Lake Methodist Episcopal Church Register and Index, 1894-1923
- Wilmington, Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, Records and Index, 1867-1918
- Wilmington, First Methodist Episcopal Church Register and Index, 1905-1932
- Wilmington, First Presbyterian Church List of burials
- Wilmington, Grace Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1876-1915
- Wilmington, Greenhill Presbyterian Church Record, 1851-1917
- Wilmington, Hanover Presbyterian Church Records, 1772-1915
- Wilmington, Holy Trinity Church Christina Congregation, Church Records, 1750-1889
- Wilmington, Holy Trinity Church The Records 1697 to 1773
- Wilmington, Holy Trinity Church The Records,1697 to 1773
- Wilmington, Holy Trinity or (Old Swedes) Church, Marriages, 1713-1799
- Wilmington, Kingswood Methodist Episcopal Church, Records and Index, 1872-1936
- Wilmington, Madeley Methodist Episcopal Church Comprehensive Church Records, books 1-3, 1890-1926
- Wilmington, Mt. Salem Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1847-1863
- Wilmington, Newark Meeting House Index to records and minutes of the Board of Trusteese, 1845-1939
- Wilmington, Old Swedes Church Marriages, 1736-1781
- Wilmington, Olivet Presbyterian Church Records, 1867-1915
- Wilmington, Scott Methodist Episcopal Church Register and Index, 1854-1913
- Wilmington, Society of Friends. Wilmington Monthly Meeting A List of births, 1707-1851, marriages, 1733-1917, and deaths, 1736-1872
- Wilmington, St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1866-1916
- Wilmington, Union Methodist Episcopal Church Register, 1863-1924
- Wilmington, Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1884-1915
- Wilmington, West Presbyterian Church Records, 1869-1927
- Wilmington, Westminster Presbyterian Church Records., Wilmington, 1886-1915
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For other Free Delaware Links, click on the category of interest:
Newspapers
Yearbooks
Births
Marriages
Deaths
BMD Records
Alumni Records
Cemetery Records
Church Records
Coroner Records
Criminal Records
Directories
Divorce Records
Immigration Records
Military Records
Mortuary Records
Naturalizations
Obituaries
Photos
Probate and Wills
School Records
Tax Records
Voter Records
