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, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Obituaries, Parish Records |
| Title: | Badsey History |
| Link: | https://www.badsey.net |
| Description: | Badsey and Aldington Records and History |
| Extra Info: | Click on Wickhamford for village records and information. |
| 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: | 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, Parish Records |
| Title: | Halesowen Town and its History |
| Link: | https://www.halesowenroots.com/ |
| Description: | Halesowen Town and its History |
| 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: | 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: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Mel Lockie's website |
| Link: | https://www.melocki.org.uk |
| Description: | Miscellaneous genealogical information, includng Parish Registers from Shropshire |
| 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, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Open Library |
| Link: | http://openlibrary.org/ |
| Description: | Open Library - Scanned Books Online |
| Extra Info: | Includes full images of many books of transcribed parish registers. Use the search facility and select e books only. Can also search within book text easily. |
| 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, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Bushley, Deanery of Upton, Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofbushl00bush |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Bushley, Deanery of Upton, Worcestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Register 1538-1812. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Churchill in Oswaldslow, Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofchurc00chur |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Churchill in Oswaldslow, Worcestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Register 1564-1794. Banns 1762 to 1792. Selected entries that filled up the register 1761-1839. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Eastham (with Hanley Child and Orleton) and Hanley William, Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofeasth00east |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Eastham (with Hanley Child and Orleton) and Hanley William, Worcestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers 1572-1812. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Halesowen - St John's |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~uktranscriptions/ge... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Halesowen - St John's |
| Extra Info: | Baptisms, marriages and burials 1717-1740. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Halesowen, Worcester |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofhales00hale |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Halesowen, Worcester |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1559-1643. Published 1910. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Parish Registers of N. Gloucestershire and S. Worcestershire and Other Records |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~wrag44/genealogy/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers of N. Gloucestershire and S. Worcestershire and Other Records |
| Extra Info: | Includes Deerhurst, Forthampton, Eldersfield and Tewkesbury area. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Over Areley, Worcestershire (formerly in Staffordshire) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofovera00over |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Over Areley, Worcestershire (formerly in Staffordshire) |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers 1564-1812. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Worcester - St Alban's, Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofstalb02worc |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Worcester - St Alban's, Worcestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers 1630-1812. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Worcester Cathedral, Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registerofworces00worc |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Worcester Cathedral, Worcestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers 1693-1811. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Worcestershire - Phillimore (1) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/worcestershirepa01phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Worcestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol. 1 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Includes Shipston-on-Stour, Tidmington, Bradley, Kempsey, Alderminster, Offenham, Alstone, Kington, Redditch, Church Lench, Rous Lench and Elmbridge. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Worcestershire - Phillimore (2) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/worcestershirepa02phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Worcestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol. 2 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. North, Middle and South Littleton, Churchill-in-Halfshire, North Piddle, Himbleton, Huddington, Cleeve Prior, Little Comberton, Upton Snodsbury, Bushley, Birtsmorton, Rushock, Frankley, Eastham, Hanley Child, Orleton and Hanley William. |
| 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: | Burials / Cremations, Census, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Quinton Local History Society |
| Link: | http://www.qlhs.org.uk/ |
| Description: | Quinton Local History Society |
| Extra Info: | Click on Archives for online data. |
| 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, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | The Genealogy of the Cotswolds and Surrounds |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20150406062544/http://w... |
| Description: | The Genealogy of the Cotswolds and Surrounds |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most of the information still seems to be avaialble to view, but not the church photographs. Go to the parish pages for transcription. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | UK Transcriptions Website |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~uktranscriptions/ge... |
| Description: | UK Transcriptions Website Various Counties |
| Extra Info: | Transcriptions for Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Click on Other Counties for Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk and Shetland. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Worcestershire County Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | Worcestershire County Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | Worcestershire County Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish register extracts; Various wills; Visitation 1569 |
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