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 July 2021; recently added links are in BOLD):
- 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
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
