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 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.
(Updated October 2021; recently added links are in BOLD):
- 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
Obituaries
BMD Records
Photos
Yearbooks
Directories
Divorce Records
Naturalizations
Church Records
School Records
Coroner Records
Voter Records
Probate and Wills
Immigration
Mortuary Records
Alumni Records
Cemetery Records
