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 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 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 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.
Georgia Church Records
- Atlanta, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Session Records, 1902-1908
- Albany, Albany Baptist Church, Church Minutes 1860-1899
- Arkwright, Park Memorial Methodist Church, Church Register, 1891-1959
- Athens, Ebenezer Friendship Baptist Church Collection
- Athens, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Church Minutes and Records 1843-1908
- Athens, First Baptist Church, Church Records and Minutes, 1830-1913
- Athens, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1820-1921
- Atlanta, St. Philips Episcopal Church, Church Records (Minutes), 1847-1859, 1870-1884
- Augusta, St. Mary’s Church Miscellaneous Records 1895-1907
- Augusta, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Records, 1868-1913
- Bainbridge, St. John’s Church Parish Registers 1868-1894
- Baxley, Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church Minutes and Membership ca. 1855-1890 and Universal Church Record ca. 1902- 1923
- Bellevue, Bellevue Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1894-1941
- Bibb County, Mulberry Street Methodist Church, Church Minute Book, 1838-1878
- Blairsville, Blairsville Baptist Church Members and Minutes 1911-1941
- Blairsville, Minutes of the Notla River Baptist Association, 1918-1959
- Bleckley County, Bethany Baptist Church, Church Memberships and Minutes 1868-1930
- Bleckley County, Limestone Baptist Church, Church Minutes 1887-1931
- Bleckley County, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Church Minutes and Membership 1840-1922
- Bleckley County, Salem Baptist Church, Church Enrollment and Minute Books 1891-1958
- Brunswick, St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1889-1944
- Brunswick, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1858-1991
- Brunswick, St. Paul’s Parish Church Records, 1903-1950
- Butts County, Methodist Churches Christening Records
- Butts County, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Minutes and Membership Rolls, 1878-1932
- Butts County, Towaliga Baptist Church, Church Records (Minutes and Membership) 1899-1955
- Camden County, Church Christening Records
- Carroll County, New Bethel Church of Christ Roll Book
- Cartersville, Cartersville Baptist Church, Church Records, 1873-1894
- Cassville, Cassville Baptist Church, Church Register of Members, 1875-1901
- Church Records Microfilm Collection Indexes
- Clayton County, Jonesboro Presbyterian Church Membership Lists, Minutes, History, and Building Plans, 1879-1955
- Cleveland, First Baptist Church Minutes and Membership Rolls, 1840-1960
- Cohutta, Cohutta Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1886-1890
- Collins, Pine Grove Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1921-1960
- Colomokee, Colomokee Baptist Church, Church Records 1889-1919
- Columbus, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Church Records, 1868-1961
- Conyers, Conyers Baptist Church, Church Membership Roll and Minutes, 1914-1944
- Coosa Baptist Association, History and Name Index, 1835-1978,
- Crawford, Crawford Baptist Church, Church Minutes and Membership Rolls, 1871-1913
- Cusseta, Harmony Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1840-1869
- Darien, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1876-1958
- Darien, Methodist Church, Church Records ca. 1936-1946
- Darien, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Church Records 1759-1958
- Darien, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1871-1946
- Dawsonville, Bethel Baptist Church, Church Minutes and Membership Roll 1878-1900, and, Records 1838-1878
- Diocese of Georgia, Episcopal Church, Church Register, Missions at Thunderbolt, Pineora, Meldrim, and Statesboro, June 1915-June 1928
- Diocese of Georgia, Episcopal Church, Instrument of Donations, 1852-1910
- Diocese of Georgia, Episcopal Church, Letters dimissory, 1833-1867
- Effingham County, Jerusalem Church Births and Baptisms, July 1756 – November 1781
- Effingham County, Jerusalem Church Marriage Records
- Effingham County, Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Records
- Effingham, Early Records of Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Elbert County, Deep Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1859-1901
- Ellenwood, Mount Zion United Methodist Church, History, 1853-1993
- Fayette County, Antioch Baptist Church, Church Minutes, Registers, and Membership Roll, 1829-1917
- Fayette County, Corinth Baptist Church, Church Records and Membership Roll, 1880-1955
- Fayette County, Hopeful Baptist Church, Church Records 1825-1911
- Fayetteville, Fayetteville Baptist Church, Church History, 1828-1928, and Church Minutes and Records, 1851-1907
- Fayetteville, Fayetteville Methodist Church, Church History, 1824-1958, and Church Registers, 1869-1907
- Forsyth, Forsyth Presbyterian Church, Church Minutes 1886-1904
- Fort Valley, Fort Valley First Methodist Church Minutes 1847-1885 and Membership, 1847
- Gainesville, First Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1896-1960
- Georgia Births and Christenings, 1754-1960
- Georgia Carters Grove Baptist Church Membership Lists and Minutes, 1875-1905
- Georgia Jasper County Miscellaneous Records, 1808-1935
- Georgia, Bible Records
- Georgia, Bible, Church and Family Records
- Georgia, Church Marriages, 1754-1960
- Georgia, Church Marriages, 1787-1962
- Georgia, Church Vital Records, 1828-1991
- Georgia, Jackson Methodist Church, Church Records and Jackson Circuit Records, 1846-1952
- Georgia, Dewy Rose Baptist Church, Church Minutes 1897-1931
- Georgia, Elberton First Presbyterian Church, Church Minutes, 1865-1896
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Lists of Candidates for Confirmation, 1863-1866
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Minute Books 1908-19 14
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Minutes of the Executive Council 1921- 1940
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Minutes of the Standing Committee 1861-1920
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Minutes, 1878-1907
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Miscellaneous Records
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Miscellaneous Records
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Record of lay readers 1908-1942
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Removal of the Consecrations, 1912-1921
- Georgia, Episcopal Church Re-ordinations, 1840-1868
- Glennville, First Baptist Church Minutes, Conferences, History, and Cemetery Records, 1857-1959
- Greene County, St. Peter’s and St. John’s Lutheran Churches, Baptismal Records, 1886-1923
- Greene County, Bethany Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1841-1944
- Greene County, Shiloh Baptist Church, Church Records, 1839-1859
- Gwinnett County Missionary Baptist Churches Records
- Harris County, Mountain Creek Baptist Church Membership Records
- Hawkinsville, First Baptist Church, Church Records, 1839-1958
- Hollingsworth, Line Baptist Church of Christ Minutes and Membership Roll, 1885-1963
- Homer, Baptist Church Minutes and Membership Rolls, 1868-1920
- Homer, Hickory Flat Methodist Church Marriages, Baptisms, Membership Lists, 1903-1945
- Homer, New Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Church Minutes and Membership Roll, 1860-1931
- Jasper County Church Records
- Jasper County, Baptist Church, Church Records, 1865-1906
- Jasper County, Methodist Church, Church Records, 1878-1924
- Jasper, First Baptist Church Membership Records and Scrapbook, 1904-1922
- Jefferson, First Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1866-1965
- Jenkins County, Fairhaven Methodist Church Deeds and Miscellaneous Papers 1856-1898
- Jenkinsburg, Jenkinsburg Baptist Church, Church Records (Membership and Minutes) 1912-1941
- Jesup, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1893-1955
- Lincoln County, Hephzibah Baptist Church, Church Minutes and Records, 1831-1932
- Lincoln County, New Hope Baptist Church Minutes, 1866-1931
- Lithonia, Lithonia Baptist Church, Church Records, 1845-1967
- Macon, Bibb County, Mulberry Street Methodist Church Miscellaneous Records, 1828-1951
- Macon, Bibb County, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1870-1959
- Macon, Bibb County, Tabernacle Baptist Church Minutes, 1910-1959
- Macon, Centenary Methodist Church Sunday School Roll Book, 1885-1898, and Register, 1918-1952
- Macon, Christ Episcopal Church Parish Registers Georgia, 1833-1959
- Macon, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Church Minutes ca. 1913-1958
- Macon, First Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Records, 1874-1877, Womens Missionary Society, 1874, 1894-1896
- Macon, Midway Missionary Baptist Church, Church Minutes 1845-1909
- Macon, St. James Episcopal Church, Church Minutes and Records, 1911-1965
- Macon, Tattnall Square Baptist Church, Church Minutes ca. 1891-1958
- Madison, Baptist Church, Church Records, 1834-1951
- Mansfield, Carmel Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1835-1958
- Maysville, Grove Level Baptist Church, Church Minutes and Membership Roll, 1802-1942
- McDonough, McDonough Baptist Church, Church Records (Minutes and Membership) 1865-1953
- McDonough, McDonough Methodist Church, Church Records (Minutes, Membership Lists, etc.) 1889-1940
- Midway, Congregational Church of Midway Births or Christenings, 1746-1863
- Midway, Congregational Church of Midway Church Records, 1754-1868
- Midway, Congregational Church of Midway Marriages, 1753-1858
- Midway, Midway Congregational Church, Church Records 1754-1898
- Mount Paran, Crawford County, Primitive Baptist Church. Minutes, 1824-1959
- Newnan, First Baptist Church, Church Records, 1828-1941
- Newnan, Midway Congregational Church Records
- Newton, Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Records of the Session, 1830-1917
- Oglethorpe County, Clouds Creek Baptist Church Minutes Commencing August 11, 1826-1856
- Oliver, Little Ogeechee Baptist Church Minutes 1927-1942
- Penfield, Penfield Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1839-1885, 1892
- Perry, Perry Methodist Church, Church History, Membership Roll, Register, Minutes, 1827, 1885-1919
- Putnam County, Crooked Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Members
- Quitman, St. James Episcopal Church Parish Registers, 1912-1966
- Richmond County, Hephzibah Methodist Church Register of Members, Baptisms, Marriages,1854-1959, and a Short History
- Rome, St. Peter’s Church, Church Records, 1843-1959
- Russellville, Missionary Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1849-1924
- Savannah, Independent Presbyterian Church, Church Membership Rolls, 1800-1926, and Baptisms, Marriages, etc., 1828- 1866
- Savannah, Lutheran Church of the Ascension Marriages, Baptisms, Interments, 1823-1926
- Savannah, North Salem Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1823-1952
- Savannah, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1852-1985
- Screven County, Little Horse Creek Baptist Church of Christ Minutes and Membership Lists, 1832-1933
- Screven County, North Newington Baptist Church Minutes and Membership Lists, 1863-1960
- Shady Dale, Providence Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1851-1882
- Smyrna, First Baptist Church, Church Minutes, 1884-1956
- Swainsboro, Emanuel County, Hawhammock Baptist Church Minutes and Membership Lists, 1842-1959
- Talbotton, Talbotton Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Minutes and Conferences 1873-1953, and Bishops, presiding Elders, and Pastors 1854-1942
- Taliaferro County, Baptist Church at Crawfordville Church Records, 1831-1950
- Thomaston, First Baptist Church Minutes and Membership Rolls, 1825-1958
- Thomaston, Friendship Primitive Baptist Church, Church Minutes and Membership Rolls, 1864-1948
- Thomaston, Trinity Primitive Baptist Church, Church Minutes, Articles of Faith, Partial Membership List, 1871-1937
- Thomasville, First Presbyterian Church Sessional Records and Some Baptismal Records, 1854-1959
- Thomasville, St. Thomas Episcopal Church Parish Registers, 1874-1958
- Thomson, McDuffie County, Sweet Water Baptist Church Membership Lists and Minutes, 1875-1960
- Thomson, First Baptist Church Minutes, 1859-1960
- Warrenton, First Baptist Church, Church Records 1893-1956
- Washington, Washington Baptist Church, Church Conference Records, 1827-1905
- Washington, Washington Station Methodist Church, Church Records, 1824-1911
- Waycross, Central Baptist Church, Church History, Minutes, and Membership Rolls, 1909-1959
- Wayne County, Little Creek Baptist Church Minutes 1908-1919 and Membership Rolls 1929-1932
- Wayne County, Union Baptist Church, Church Membership Roll and Minutes, 1897-1939
- Waynesboro, First Methodist Church, Church Membership Roll, 1886-1960
- Waynesboro, Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church, Church Register, Baptisms, Confirmations, Communicants, Marriages, and Deaths, 1882-1961
- White Plains, White Plains Baptist Church, Church Records, 1806-1921
- Wilkes County, Washington Station Methodist Church Records
- Wilkes County, Beaver Dam Baptist Church, Church Records (Minutes) ca. 1836-1923
- Wilkes County, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Church Records, 1892-1925
- Wilkes County, Philips Mill Baptist Church, Church Records, 1785-1948
- Wilkinson County, Liberty Baptist Church Minute Book, 1837-1854
- Willacoochee, Baptist Church Minute Book 1904-191
- Winterville, Methodist Episcopal Church, South Bible Class Book, Church Registers, 1890-1960, and Miscellaneous Records
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!