Parish Registers were instigated by Thomas Cromwell from 1538 in the reign of Henry VIII, recording every wedding, baptism and burial. There are gaps in the records for a variety of reasons, such as the civil war, but these records are a prime source for building family trees. From 1597 a copy of the records had to be made and sent to the Bishop. Sometimes the Bishops' Transcript may contain more information than the original, so it can often be worthwhile tracking down both. For more information on Parish Registers there is a brief history on the Wikipedia Parish Register page.
After 1837 Civil Registration was introduced and the Local BMD and GRO BMD records become the primary source.
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Births, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates - BMD Index |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Complete GRO indexes online & Non-Parochial BMDs service. Includes overseas BMD's for armed forces. |
| Extra Info: | Includes Pre-1837 Non-Conformist BMDs |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | A Romany Gypsy & Traveller Heritage Project |
| Link: | https://www.romaheritage.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Romani Parish and Census records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Parish Records |
| Title: | Baptisms - England and Wales Christening Records |
| Link: | England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Description: | England and Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Bodiam Mill in Sussex and Sandhurst, Kent |
| Link: | http://www.bodiam-mill.net/ |
| Description: | Bodiam Mill in Sussex and Sandhurst, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Subscription Site. Use the sitemap to see what is on the site. |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Census, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations |
| Title: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | England Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes 1861-1901 Censuses; 1837-2005 GRO BMD; visitations and other records. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | English Clandestine Marriages |
| Link: | https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/england-clandestine-marriages |
| Description: | English Clandestine Marriages from 1667 to 1775. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Extra Info: | More than 40,000 digitized genealogy and family history publications from the archives of some of the most important family history libraries in the world. Read online for free. Includes some parish register transcripts. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search - Maps |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search - Maps |
| Extra Info: | Maps showing where parish boundaries are, when registers were first started. Not complete coverage. Click on map in the map screen to view road names. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Extra Info: | An increasing number of records, including census and parish records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Extra Info: | Includes the England and Wales 1841 & 1861 Census, and foreign records, such as the American census that contains Britons who were aboard. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | FreeReg Project |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Transcriptions for Parish Registers |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Genealogy Information and Records |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gypsy/genealogy/ |
| Description: | Genealogy Information and Records , Mainly Folkestone and Hythe Areas |
| Extra Info: | Includes some records for gypsies, travellers and other itinerants in Kent. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Obituaries, One Place Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | Hastingleigh, Kent |
| Link: | http://www.hastingleigh.com/ |
| Description: | Hastingleigh, Kent - Records |
| Extra Info: | One place study. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Internet Archive |
| Link: | http://archive.org/ |
| Description: | Internet Archive |
| Extra Info: | Has many scanned books, including some parish registers. Click on texts and then search the archive. Note baptism and baptisms give different results. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Kent County Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | Kent County Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | Kent County Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish register extracts; Cathedral Church of Rochester, (1657-1837); Lee, Kent, S. Margaret Church Register, 1579-1754; Calendar of marriage licenses issued by the Faculty Office, 1632-1714; Registers of the French Church at Dover, Kent. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Kent Genealogy Including Parish Registers |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mrawson/genealogy/ |
| Description: | Kent Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | Many Kent parish register transcripts are available on the site. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, On-line Parish Clerks, Parish Records |
| Title: | Kent Online Parish Clerk |
| Link: | http://kent-opc.org/ |
| Description: | Kent Online Parish Clerk |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Loose (Kent) Area History Society |
| Link: | https://www.looseareahistorysociety.org.uk/ |
| Description: | Loose (Kent) Area History Society |
| Extra Info: | Click on Our Archives for an e-book covering those mentioned on the war memorial. Also has a surname list of monumental inscriptions. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Marriage Indexes for Mid-Kent 1754-1911 |
| Link: | https://www.woodchurchancestry.org.uk/midkentmarri... |
| Description: | Mid-Kent Marriage Indexes 1754-1911 |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Marriages - England and Wales |
| Link: | England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Description: | England and Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs |
| Link: | https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/affiliate/?affid=... |
| Description: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs from the National Archive, hosted by The Genealogist |
| Extra Info: | They include the birth records at Dr Williams' Library in London, hospital records of maternity, overseas registrations for British citizens and those on board ships. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram of Coley Register |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/nonconformistreg00byuhe... |
| Description: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram or Coley Register 1644-1752 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Parish Registers 1584-1620. Index of surnames and place names at end of book. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of All Saints, Maidstone - Memorials and Lists of Persons |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/memorialsoftheco00gilbu... |
| Description: | Parish of All Saints, Maidstone - Memorials and Lists of Persons |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Includes a small numbers of extracts of the parish registers. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Boxley, Kent - History and Information |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/historyofboxleyp00cave |
| Description: | Parish of Boxley, Kent - History and Information |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Includes some monumental inscriptions from the church. Also extracts from the parish registers. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Brasted, Kent - A History of the Church and Manor |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/historybrastedi00cavego... |
| Description: | Parish of Brasted, Kent - A History of the Church and Manor |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Includes details of some of the monuments in the church. Also extracts of the parish registers for the CROW, HEATH and SEYLIARD families. |
| Classification: | Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Eastry and Royal Ville, Kent - Memorials |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/liberestriaeorme00shawr... |
| Description: | Memorials of the Royal Ville and Parish of Eastry, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Includes a few monumental inscriptions, a few marriages and burials (1562-1643). |
| Classification: | Burials / Cremations, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Farnborough, St Giles, Kent |
| Link: | https://farnborough-kent-parish.org.uk/ |
| Description: | Parish of Farnborough, St Giles, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Click on History for burial and war memorial details. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Parish of Staplehurst, Kent |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~staplehurst/genealo... |
| Description: | The Parish of Staplehurst, Kent |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregister00braduof... |
| Description: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. It explains that start of parish registers and other associated items, such as Phillimore marriages, Hardwicke's marriage act, banns, explanation of register entries, foundlings, as well as some interesting register extracts. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register and Census Transcripts - A Selection |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~juliet22/genealogy/... |
| Description: | Parish Register and Census Transcripts - A Selection |
| Extra Info: | May not display correctly in all browsers. Transcripts from Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Northumberland for a selction of names. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register Images from Medway Council CityArk |
| Link: | https://cityark.medway.gov.uk |
| Description: | Parish Register Images from Medway Council CityArk |
| Extra Info: | Follow the parish registers online link and then scroll down the screen for a full list. Includes many Kent parishes. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register Transcriptions |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20120302095016/http://w... |
| Description: | Transcription and Extracts Index for Berkshire, Kent, Somerset and Suffolk |
| Extra Info: | This is a copy of an archived site. Most information seems to be available. May take a few moments to load. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register Transcripts and Other Miscellaneous Records |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/genealogy/PR_... |
| Description: | Parish Register Transcripts and Other Miscellaneous Records |
| Extra Info: | Extracts of parish records for Somerset, Berkshire, Kent and Suffolk. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Boughton-under-Blean, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofbough49boug |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Boughton-under-Blean, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Covers baptisms 1558-1624, marriages 1558-1626 and burials 1558-1625. With an index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Canterbury, St. Dunstan, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registerbookeofc00duns |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Canterbury, St. Dunstan, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Covers 1559-1800. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Chislet, St. Mary, Kent |
| Link: | Parish Registers of Chislet, St. Mary, Kent |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Chislet, St. Mary, Kent (Ancestry) |
| Extra Info: | Registers cover the period 1538 to 1707. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Dover, French Church, Kent |
| Link: | Parish Registers of Dover, French Church, Kent |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Dover, French Church, Kent (Ancestry) |
| Extra Info: | In French. Registers 1546-1673. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Elmsted, Kent |
| Link: | http://www.hastingleigh.com/Elmsted/Elmsted-Index.... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Elmsted, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Parish registers. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Horton Kirbie, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterso79hort |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Horton Kirbie, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Covers baptisms and marriages 1684-1812 and burials 1678-1810. With a names index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Kent - Selected Parishes |
| Link: | http://www.hastingleigh.com/hast-other-parish.html |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Kent - Selected Parishes |
| Extra Info: | Boughton Aluph, Brabourne, Brook, Challock, Chilham, Crundale, Elmsted, Godmersham, Hinxhill, Kennington, Lyminge, Mersham, Molash, Monks Horton, Petham, Sellindge, Smeeth, Stelling-Minnis, Stowting, Waltham, Wye, Bridge, Ulcombe, Ruckinge, Warehorne. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Kingston, St. Giles, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterso00kingr... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Kingston, St. Giles, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Baptisms 1558-1812, marriages 1558-1837, burials 1558-1812, supplemented by the monumental inscriptions in the church and churchyard. Published 1893. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Lee (Lewisham), St. Margaret, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registerofallmar00chur |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Lee (Lewisham), St. Margaret, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages, christenings and burials 1579-1754. Published 1888. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Lee, St. Margaret Church, Kent |
| Link: | Parish Register of St. Margaret Church, Lee, Kent |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Lee, St. Margaret Church, Kent (Ancestry) |
| Extra Info: | Marriages and baptisms1579-1754, burials 1579 to 1677. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Lullingstone, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterso78lull |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Lullingstone, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Covers the period 1578-1812. With a names index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Newenden, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registerofnewend10newe |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Newenden, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Covers baptisms 1559-1812, marriages 1560-1813 and burials 1560-1812. With an index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Rochester, Cathedral Church, Kent |
| Link: | Parish Registers of Rochester, Cathedral Church, Kent |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Rochester, Cathedral Church, Kent (Ancestry) |
| Extra Info: | Parish Registers 1657-1837 |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Sandhurst, St Nicholas, Kent |
| Link: | http://www.bodiam-mill.net/openmisc/Registers.htm |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Sandhurst, St Nicholas, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Subscription Site. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Shipbourne, Kent |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofshipb00shipr... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Shipbourne, Kent |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Covers 1560-1658. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parishmouse Family History Guides |
| Link: | https://www.parishmouse.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers, Parish Records and Historical Directories. |
| Extra Info: | Each parish page provides a list of adjacent parishes, historical descriptions of the parish, links to free parish registers and records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Obituaries, Parish Records |
| Title: | Patricia Hamilton's Family History Site |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20180214004212/http://w... |
| Description: | Patricia Hamilton's Family History Site |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of this site. Most information is still available to view. Includes the names Hamilton, Croswell, Blacks, Field, Foster, Payne, Dann, Sharp, Wilcox and Moake. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Romany Genes 2 Website |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20210423045021/http://... |
| Description: | Romany Genes 2 Website |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most information is still available to view. Maybe slow to load. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Romany References and Records |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20091026134802/http://g... |
| Description: | Romany References and Records |
| Extra Info: | This is an archived copy of a site that is no longer active, although most information still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Obituaries, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Sheerness and the Isle of Sheppey Records |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~penney/genealogy/ |
| Description: | Sheerness and the Isle of Sheppey Records |
| Extra Info: | Also look under assorted bits and pieces for more marriages, deaths and memorials. |
If you know of any web sites for BMD data not listed here, please let us know via the Contact Us page.