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 July 2021)
- Adams County Church Records
- Alhambra, Salem United Church of Christ Church Records, 1837-1955 (pastors listed to 1959)
- Anna, Camp Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1871-1926
- Arenzville, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Church Records
- Atwood, Atwood United Church Church Records, ca. 1870-1980
- Barrington, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Church Records, 1858-1980
- Belleville, St. Paul United Church of Christ Church Records, 1839-1959
- Belvidere, First Evangelical Church Church Records, 1859-1949
- Blandinsville, First Baptist Church Church Records, 1833-1979
- Breese, St. John’s United Church of Christ Church Records, 1859-1981
- Brussels, St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Church Minutes, 13 Oct. 1861-May 1876
- Brussels, St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Church Minutes, 13 Oct. 1861-May 1876
- Burnt Prairie, Burnt Prairie Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1869-1945
- Burnt Prairie, Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1823-1830
- Caseyville, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Church Records, 1863-1943
- Champaign, Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Church Records
- Champaign, St John’s Lutheran Church – Church Records
- Champaign, St Peter’s Lutheran Church – Church Records
- Chicago, Croatian Catholic Church. St. Jerome Church Annual Reports, 1923-1979
- Chicago, Wallace Street Catholic Church. All Saints Church Records, 1875-1916
- Chicago, : Croatian Catholic Church. Holy Trinity Church Records, 1915-1980
- Chicago, : Croatian Catholic Church. Sacred Heart Church Records, 1913-1980
- Chicago, Moreland Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1890-1921
- Chicago, Adams Street United Evangelical Church Church Records, 1888-1928; church history, 1884-1887
- Chicago, Ashland Avenue Evangelical Church Church Records, 1893-1929
- Chicago, Augusta Street Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1871-1928
- Chicago, Bowen Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1894, 1907-1920
- Chicago, Catholic Church. Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary Church Records, 1901-1976
- Chicago, Catholic Church. Holy Angels Church Records, 1881-1930
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Agnes Church Records, 1879-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Anne Church Records, 1869-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Anthony of Padua Church Records, 1873-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Augustine Church Records, 1881-1915
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Boniface Church Records, 1865-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Cecilia Church Records, 1885-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Columba Church Records, 1884-1922
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Elizabeth Church Records, 1882-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Gabriel Church Records, 1880-1915, 1934-1935
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. George Church Records, 1884-1918
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Jerome Church Records, 1912-1980
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. John Nepomucene Church Records, 1871-1938
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Joseph and St. Anne Church Records, 1882-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Malachy Church Records, 1882-1919
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Martin Church Records, 1886-1915
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church Records, 1884-1919
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Mary Church Records, 1887-1915
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Paul Church Records, 1878-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Procopius Church Records, 1876-1915
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Rita of Cascia Church Records, 1878-1915
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Rose of Lima Church Records, 1882-1923
- Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Thomas the Apostle Church Records, 1870-1916
- Chicago, Catholic Church. Visitation Church Records, 1886-1915
- Chicago, Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1846-1928
- Chicago, Desplaines Street Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1857-1866
- Chicago, Dickson Street Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1856-1887
- Chicago, Douglas Park Evangelical Church Church Records, 1895-1920
- Chicago, First Italian Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1901-1920
- Chicago, First St. Paul’s German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation Church Records and history, 1833-1895
- Chicago, First Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1853-1885
- Chicago, Harrison Street Evangelical Church Church Records, 1874-1928
- Chicago, Hoyne Avenue Evangelical Church Church Records, 1893-1947
- Chicago, Hyde Park Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church Membership roll, ca. 1898-1935
- Chicago, Ingleside Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1875-1955
- Chicago, Luke Hitchcock Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1883-1909
- Chicago, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Church Records, 1901-1946
- Chicago, Salem Evangelical Church Church Records, 1864-1912
- Chicago, Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church Alphabetical Record of Members in full connection, ca. *1846-1905
- Chicago, South Shore Evangelical Mission Church Records, 1925-1938
- Chicago, St. Luke’s Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1885-1925
- Chicago, St. Mark’s Evangelical Church Church Records, 1924-1930
- Chicago, St. Paul’s German Evangelical Church Parish Register, 1912-1959
- Chicago, Swedish Emanuel Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1895-1917
- Chicago, Wicker Park Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1881-1935
- Clifton, St. Peter Catholic Church, Birth/Baptismal and Marriage Records 1869-1919
- Clinton County Church Records
- Collinsville, Faith United Church of Christ Church Records, ca. 1883-1969
- Collinsville, St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ Church Records, 1894-1989
- Cook County, Miscellaneous Church Records
- Danville, First Presbyterian Church United Presbyterian History 1823-1947
- De Witt, De Witt Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1837-1931
- Dieterich, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Parish Register, 1860-1881; Minutes, 1859-1930
- Douglas County, Newman Methodist Episcopal Church; Illinois. County Court Church Records, 1916-1948
- Du Quoin, First Baptist Church Church Records, 1857-1966
- DuPage County, Churches and their Records, 1833-1920
- Dwight, Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, including baptisms & marriages, 1891-1923
- Eagle Lake, St John’s Lutheran Church – Church Records
- Elburn, Elburn Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1891-1931
- Elizabethtown, St. Joseph Parish, Marriages, Deaths, First Communion, Confirmations, 1923-1956
- Elwood, Elwood Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1864-1948
- Fowler, St. Paul’s Church Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths & other Records, 1862-1965
- Frankfort, St. Peter’s Church Parish Register, 1893-1925
- Frankfort, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ Church Records, 1858-1962
- Fulton County, Olive Christian Church Records of Olive Christian Church, Avon, Il
- Geneseo, First Unitarian Church Church Records, 1917-1918
- Grand Crossing, Grand Crossing Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, ca. 1873-1896
- Hanover, Zoar Church Church Record, 1847-1884
- Havana, United Methodist Church Church Records, 1909-1917
- Highland, Evangelical United Church of Christ Church Records, 1840-1957
- Highland, Grantfork Evangelical Church Church Records, 1873-1986
- Hoopeston, Universalist Church, Illinois, Early Members, 1882 – 1883, Marriages to 1919
- Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925
- Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985
- Illinois, Church Records, 1837-1995
- Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records 1729-1956
- Jackson Township, Will County, Zion Congregation of the Evangelical Association at Providence Ridge Church Records, 1854-1967
- Jefferson County, Panther Fork Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1866-1950
- Jersey County, Antioch Baptist Church Record Books, 1868-1898
- Kaskaskia, Catholic Church. Notre-Dame de l’Immaculée-Conception Parish Registers, 1695-1843 (abridged transcript)
- La Salle County, Little Indian Creek Wesleyan Methodist Church Church Records & History, 1843-1877
- Leland, Leland Methodist Episcopal Church Records and Lee Methodist Church Records, 1875-1919
- Liberty, Zions Evangelical Lutheran Church Church Records, 1907-1939
- Lincoln, Lincoln Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1923-1938
- Logan County, Bethel Church A List of Members, November 1854 to September 1924
- Lowe Township, Moultrie County, Union Christian Chapel Church Records, 1887-1965
- Macomb, First Baptist Church Church Records, 1857-1991
- Macomb, First Christian Church Church Records, 1845-ca. 1990
- Macoupin County, Charity Baptist Church Records 1849-1908
- Macoupin County, Everly Chapel Church (North Otter Township) Records 1887-1928
- Macoupin County, Union Chapel Methodist Church (North Otter Township) Records 1868-1945
- Manhattan, Salem United Evangelical Church Church Records, including baptisms & marriages, 1892-1930
- Marissa, Friedens United Church of Christ Church Records, ca. 1819-1993
- Marshall County, Methodist Episcopal Church of Wenona, Church rRecords
- Martinsville, Willow Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1863-1936
- Mattoon, Trinity Episcopal Church Church Records, 1908-1980
- Mokena, St. John Church Records including dates of births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages & deaths, 1793-1906
- Mokena, St. John’s United Church of Christ Church Records, ca. 1856-1993
- Mokena, United Evangelical Church Church Register, 1858-1874
- Mokena, United Evangelical Church Church Register, 1858-1874
- Moline, First Unitarian Church Church Records, 1923-1956
- Monmouth, Membership Records of the Swedish Baptist Church, 1890-1904
- Monmouth, Roseville Christian Church Membership Records 1892-1904
- Monmouth, Warren County, Little York Methodist Church, Sunday School Records, 1914-1924
- Monmouth, Warren County, Records of the Coldbrook Christian Church, 1839-1964 & 11 Feb. 1940
- Monroe County, Miscellaneous Records
- Monroe County, Bethel Baptist Church Church History and Minutes, 1806-1959
- Nauvoo, Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1846-1964
- New Hanover, Zoar Evangelical Church of Christ Church Records, 1844-1991
- New Holland, New Holland Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1873-1926
- Ottawa, Zion Lutheran Church Church Records, 1847-1983
- Paris, Trinity United Methodist Church Church Records, 1915-1944
- Peoria County Church Records
- Peotone, First Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1871-1988
- Perry County, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ : Birth, Baptism, Death, Marriage Records, 1874-1904
- Plano, Deutsche Evangelische St. Johannes Gemeinde Parish and church Records, 1883-1953
- Pope County, Presbyterian Church, Baptisms
- Pope County, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and lists of Members, 1864-1972
- Quincy, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Church Records, 1856-1929
- Randolph County Miscellaneous Church Records
- Randolph County, Catholic Church. Ste. Anne-du-Fort-de-Chartres Parish Registers, 1743-1765 (abridged transcript)
- Red Bud Township, Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church Church Records, 1846-1958
- River Forest, Catholic Church. St. Luke Church Records, 1874-1920
- Riverside, Catholic Church. St. Mary Church Records, 1877-1915
- Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Catholic Church. St. Francis of Assisi Church Records, 1853-1916
- Roselle, St Johns Lutheran Church – Church Records
- Roseville, Membership Records of the Roseville Methodist Church, also contains Records of Asbury and Point Pleasant
- Rush Township, Rush Evangelical Church Church Records, 1864-1945
- Saline County, Long Branch Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1860-1925
- Sangamon County, Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1875-1907
- Sciota, Sciota Christian Church Church Records and other material, ca. 1862-1991
- Sheffield, Dansk Evangelisk Church Church Records, 1872-1883
- Springfield, First United Methodist Church Church history and Records, 1851-1926
- Springfield, South Grand Avenue Baptist Church Church Records, 1859-1954
- St. Clair County, Oak Hill Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and lists of Members, 1851-1863
- St. Clair County, Zion Lutheran Church Parish Register, 1868-1970
- Stephenson County, Ebenezer Church record, ca. 1865-1920
- Stephenson County, First Evangelical Lutheran Church record, ca. 1860-1890
- Stephenson County, German Evangelical Salem Congregation Church record, 1897-1958
- Tioga, Bethany Tioga United Church of Christ Church Records, 1805-1952
- Trenton, St. John United Church of Christ Church Records, 1889-1949
- Tuscola, First Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1861-1975
- Victoria, Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church Church Records, 1846-1867, 1942 (1)
- Virginia, Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1872-1949
- Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Catholic Church. St. James Church Records, 1855-1916
- Warren County, Record Book for the Church of Christ on the Cedar Fork of Henderson River, 1831-1858
- Wartburg, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Records
- Washington County, Saint John’s United Church of Christ of Johannisburg Church Records
- Waterloo, Baum Salem Church Church Records, 1845-1940
- Waterloo, Deerhill Church Church Records, 1856-1896
- Waterloo, St. Paul United Church of Christ Church Records, 1846-1983
- Waterloo, Zion United Congregational Church Church Records, 1855-1995
- Wayne County, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1853-1958
- Williamsville, United Methodist Church Church Records, 1914-1968
- Williamsville, Williamsville Christian Church Church Records, 1936-1943
- Winnetka, Christ Church Church Records, 1883-1949
- Winslow, Basswood United Methodist Church Church Records, 1853-1971
- Youngstown, Youngstown Christian Church Membership Records
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For other Free Illinois 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
For other Free Illinois 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
