Another under utilized 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 accessible by state 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 January, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD):
- Adair County Church Records
- Adair County, Christian Church Record Book, Membership Record at Shylo Hebron House.
- Adair County, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Minutes, 1879-1922
- Adair County, Little Flock Baptist Church Minute Book, 1829
- Adair County, Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1848-1917
- Adair County, Zions Baptist Church Records, 1802-1896
- Albany, Clear Fork Baptist Church, Record book 1 : index
- Alexandria, Catholic Church. St. Mary of the Assumption Church Records, 1860-1924
- Alexandria, St. Paul's United Church of Christ Church Records, 1899-1986
- Anderson County, Baptist Church of Christ at Salt River Church Records, 1798-1864
- Athens, Boone's Creek Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1795-1886
- Auburn, Old Gasper Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1876-1906
- Augusta, Catholic Church. St. Augustine Church Records, 1860-1925
- Barbourville, Cumberland River Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, 1804-1877
- Barbourville, First Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1804-1877
- Bardstown, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1810-1916
- Barren County, (now Metcalfe), Minutes of Little Barren River Church of United Baptists, 1841-1896
- Bath County, Springfield Church, A Record of the marriages performed 1795-1826 by Rev. Joseph P. Howe
- Bath County, Springfield Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1828-1870
- Bedford, Union Grove Baptist Church Church Records, 1903-1956
- Bellevue, Catholic Church. St. Anthony Church Records, 1889-1924
- Big Spring, Big Spring Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1884-1968
- Boone County, Sand Run Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1810-1937
- Boone, Gunpowder Baptist Church Minutes, 1902-1954
- Bourbon County, St. Peter's Episcopal Church Parish Record, 1833-1849; Vestry Proceedings, 1849-1910
- Bowling Green, Bowling Green Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1919-1927
- Bowling Green, Mount Olivet Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1856-1923
- Boyd, Boyer Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1829-1966
- Bremen, Bremen Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1893-1922
- Bromley, Kenton County, Immanuel United Church of Christ Church Records, 1894-1956
- Brooksville, Catholic Church. St. James Church Records, 1869-1947
- Brooksville, Willow Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1818-1964
- Burkesville, Burkesville Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1893-1966
- Burkesville, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Church Records, 1850-1876
- Calhoun, Buck Creek Baptist Church Church Records, 1824-1973
- California, Catholic Church. St. Peter and St. Paul Church Records, 1842-1925
- Calloway County, Locust Grove Baptist Church, Church Records, 1841-1948
- Calvert City, Vaughn's Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1897-1936
- Camp Springs, Catholic Church. St. Joseph Church Records, 1843-1924
- Campbell County Association of Baptists Minutes of the annual meeting
- Campbell County, St. John's United Church of Christ Church indexes
- Campbell County, St. John's United Church of Christ Church Records 1876-1966
- Campbell County, St. John's United Church of Christ Surname index-marriages, births, deaths, 1847-1927
- Campbell County, Twelve Mile Baptist Church, Church Records, 1819-1874
- Campbellsville, Campbellsville Baptist Church Church Records, 1901-1967
- Campbellsville, Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1866-1916
- Campbellsville, United Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1885-1901
- Cane Ridge, Cane Ridge Christian Church Church Records, 1838-1916
- Carroll County, Baptist Church of Christ at Ghent Church Records of Baptist Church of Christ at Ghent, 1800-1857
- Carrollton, Catholic Church. St. John the Evangelist Church Records, 1855-1995
- Caskey, Caskey Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1861-1902
- Cecilia, Cecilia Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1923-1968
- Cecilia, Cecilia Baptist Church, Church Records, 1819-1922
- Christian County, West Fork Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1803-1822
- Christian, Hopkinsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1883-1917
- Clark County, A Transcript of the first Record book of Providence Church
- Clark County, Salem Presbyterian Church Record Book, 1889-1954
- Clear Fork Baptist Church Church Minutes from 1802 to 1902
- Clintonville, Clintonville Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1876-1924
- Cold Spring, Catholic Church. St. Joseph Church Records, 1870-1935
- Columbia, Kelleyville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1911-1989
- Columbia, Methodist Church. Green River Circuit Records
- Covington, Catholic Church. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption Church Records, 1850-1924
- Covington, Catholic Church. Holy Cross Church Records, 1891-1924
- Covington, Catholic Church. Mother of God Church Records, 1842-1924
- Covington, Catholic Church. St. Aloysius Church Records, 1865-1987
- Covington, Catholic Church. St. Augustine Church Records, 1870-1924
- Covington, Catholic Church. St. Patrick's Church Records, 1872-1967
- Covington, Grace United Church of Christ Church Records, 1862-1995
- Coxs Creek, New Salem Baptist Church, Church Records, 1801-1960
- Cumberland County, Salem Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1808-1946
- Cynthiana, Catholic Church. St. Edward Church Records, 1872-1925
- Cynthiana, Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1829-1995
- Danville, Danville Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1826-1866
- Danville, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1827-1868
- Danville, Second Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1872-1939
- Daviess County, Yelvington Baptist Church, Church Records, 1813-1833, 1878-1883, 1909
- Dayton, Catholic Church. St. Bernard Church Records, 1854-1924
- Dayton, St. Paul United Church of Christ Church Records, 1863-1956
- Donansburg, New Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery Records,
- Easterday, Baptist Church. Whites Run Church Records 1810-1847
- Eddyville, New Bethel Baptist Church, Church Records, 1812-1945
- Edmonton, Mosby Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records 1893-1961
- Elizabethtown, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Church Records, 1838-1968
- Elizabethtown, Severn's Valley Baptist Church, Church Records, 1788-1884
- Elkton, Elkton Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1868-1939
- Elsmere, Catholic Church. St. Henry Church Records, 1904-1924
- Eubank, Pulaski County, A brief history of Freedom Church,
- Fairfield, Little Union Baptist Church, Church Records, 1811-1955
- Falmouth, Catholic Church. St. Francis Xavier Church Records, 1868-1925
- Falmouth, Richland Baptist Church, Church Records, 1831-1989
- Fayette County, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1823-1947
- Fayette County, Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1827-1951
- Flatgap, Flatgap Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1869-1914
- Flemingsburg, Catholic Church. St. Charles Church Records, 1889-1925
- Flemingsburg, Flemingsburg Baptist Church History
- Flemingsburg, Presbyterian Church, Church Records and session book, 1873-1961
- Florence, Catholic Church. St. Paul Church Records, 1862-1924
- Florence, Florence Baptist Church Church Records, 1894-1962
- Fort Thomas, Catholic Church. St. Thomas Church Records, 1895-1925
- Fort Thomas, Christ United Church of Christ Church Records, 1908-1987
- Franklin, Providence Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1895-1926
- Franklin, Smyrna Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1840-1974
- Franklin, Sulphur Spring Baptist Church Church Records, 1893-1963
- Fredonia, Fredonia Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1935-1956
- Fulton, Fulton Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1889-1928
- Ghent, Baptist Church, Church Records, 1800-1928
- Glasgow, List of Barren County Preachers, 1799-1842
- Graves County, Burnetts Chapel Methodist Church Church Records, 1905-1962
- Graves County, Hopewell United Baptist Church of Christ Church Records, 1888-1956
- Graves County, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Minute Books, 1834-1881
- Graves County, Trace Creek United Baptist Church of Christ Church Records, 1825-1962
- Green County, Mt. Gilead Church Records, 1830-1927
- Green County, Pitman's Creek Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1802-1828
- Hammonville, Three Forks of Bacon Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1818-1968
- Hancock County, West Point Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1841-1886
- Hardin County, Big Spring Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1816-1940
- Hardin County, Forks of the Otter Creek Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1827-1904
- Hardyville, Joyners Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1916-1966
- Harrison County, Indian Creek Baptist Church Church Records, 1859-1988
- Hart County, Green River Baptist Church, Church Records, 1803-1841
- Hart County, Green River United Baptist Church of Christ Minute Book, 1803-1841
- Hazel Green, Hazel Green Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1882-1901
- Henderson County Grave Creek Baptist Church Minutes, 1808-1859
- Henry County, Hopewell Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1836-1961
- Hodgenville, First Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1838-1857, 1878-1966
- Homer, Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1878-1931
- Hopkins County Records : Cemetery list - Church rolls
- Hopkins County, Record book of New Hope Church, August 25, 1827 - March 1903
- Hopkins County, Minutes of New Hope United Baptist Church, 1889-1926
- Hopkinsville, Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1842-1957
- Jackhorn, Hemphill Regular Baptist Church
- Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Abstract of secretary's book of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Burials, Evangelical Church 1833-1836 and 1855-1876
- Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Birth dates of children baptized in the Evangelical Church 1818-1872
- Junction City, Boyle Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1887-1931
- Kentucky Bible Archives
- Kentucky Bible Records
- Kentucky Church Records (by county)
- Kentucky, Church Marriages, 1824-1995
- Kentucky, Church Records, 1818-1995
- Kentucky, North Bend Association of Baptists Minutes of the 74th annual meeting, 1876
- Kentucky, United Baptist Church. Long Run Association Minutes of the annual meeting of the Long Run Association of United Baptists
- Kentucky, Louisville Presbytery Church Records, 1887-1951
- Kentucky, Transylvania Presbytery Church Records, 1786-1951
- Kentucky, United Society of Believers Church Records, 1801-1911
- Knottsville, Daviess County, St. Lawrence baptismal Records, August 12, 1824-Jan. 1, 1887
- Knox County, Mt. Arrarat Church, Miscellaneous Church Records and Minutes
- Lair, Lair Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1908-1926
- Lancaster, Forks of Dix River Baptist Church Record Books, 1849-1959
- Larue County, South Fork Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1804-1955
- Laurel County, United Baptist Church of Christ of Mount Bethel, Church Records
- Lawrence, Catholic Church. St. Lawrence Church Records, 1824-1841
- Lebanon, Lebanon Baptist Church Church Records, 1864-1973
- Leitchfield, First Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1804-1959
- Lewisburg, Lewisburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1893-1937
- Lexington, Central Christian Church, Church Records, 1831-1944
- Lexington, Marriages, Early Ministers' Reports, Fayette County, 1795 to 1814 inclusive
- Lexington, Second Presbyterian Church, manual: with membership list
- Lexington, Society of Friends. Lexington Monthly Meeting Church Records, 1962-1987
- Lick Branch Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Records, 1824-1870
- Little Rock, Christian Church, Church Records, 1851-1952
- Livingston County, Salem Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1875-1955
- Lone Oak, Lone Oak Methodist Church Church Records, 1905-1963
- Longlick, Longlick Baptist Church, Church Records, 1805-1954
- Louisville, United Church of Christ, St. Paul's Evangelical Church, Church Records, 1836-1987
- Louisville, United Church of Christ, St. Peter's Evangelical Church, Church Records, 1847-1920
- Louisville, Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1830-1840
- Louisville, Beechmont Baptist Church Church Records, 1911-1969
- Louisville, Bethelem United Church of Christ Church Records, 1891-1987
- Louisville, Broadway Baptist Church Church Records, 1872-1971
- Louisville, Calvary Episcopal Church, Church Records, 1856-1953
- Louisville, Catholic Church. St. Joseph Orphan Home Records, 1849-1945
- Louisville, Christ Church Cathedral Registers 1829-1975
- Louisville, Christ Evangelical United Church of Christ Church Records, 1879-1982
- Louisville, Lynnhurst United Church of Christ Church Records, 1908-1953
- Louisville, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Church Records, 1805-1884
- Louisville, Salem United Church of Christ Church Records, 1876-1953
- Louisville, Second Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1852-1911, 1942-1985
- Louisville, Society of Friends. Louisville Monthly Meeting Church Records, 1954-1988
- Louisville, St. John's Evangelical Church, Church Records, 1848-1949
- Louisville, St. John's United Church of Christ Church Records, 1851-1867
- Louisville, St. Matthew's United Church of Christ Church Records, 1889-1959
- Louisville, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Records of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1834-1978
- Louisville, St. Stephen United Church of Christ Church Records, 1850-1934
- Louisville, Zion United Church of Christ Church Records, 1849-1963
- Lowes, Mount Olivet Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1836-1958
- Ludlow, Catholic Church. St. Boniface Church Records, 1872-1924
- Ludlow, Catholic Church. St. James Church Records, 1887-1924
- Lynnville, Lynnville Baptist Church Church Records, 1894-1963
- Madisonville, Liberty Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1893-1964
- Madisonville, Madisonville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1907-1923
- Magnolia, Magnolia Baptist Church Church Records, 1893-1968
- Massac, Massac Methodist Church Church Records, 1896-1963
- Mays Lick, Catholic Church. St. Rose of Lima Church Records, 1885-1925
- Mays Lick, Mays Lick Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1850-1953
- Maysville, Catholic Church. St. Patrick Church Records, 1848-1925
- McCracken County, Barlow Methodist Church Church Records, 1895-1961
- McCracken County, Kevil Methodist Church Church Records, 1892-1963
- McCracken County, McKendree Methodist Church Church Records, 1864-1963
- McCracken County, Oakland Methodist Church Church Records, 1931-1963
- McCracken County, Olivet Baptist Church Church Records, 1883-1963
- McCracken County, Sedilia Methodist Church Church Records, 1894-1963
- McCracken County, Vaughn's Chapel Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1897-1963
- McQuady, Corinth Baptist Church Church Records, 1892-1969
- Melbourne, Catholic Church. St. Phillip Church Records, 1910-1926
- Melbourne, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Church Records
- Mercer County, Historical Sketches and Church Records
- Mercer County, Shawnee Run Baptist Church Minutes 1799 through 1907
- Metcalfe County, Minutes of Little Barren Church (Formerly Trammels Creek), 1815-1849
- Metcalfe County, Goodhope Baptist Church Goodhope Church, Barren County : (now Metcalfe), 1838-1872
- Middletown, Christian Church Church Records, 1878-1964
- Midway, Midway Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1832-1948
- Millcreek, Church, Book of Records
- Millersburgh, Baptist Church Membership Record, 1809-1963; Minutes, 1958-1960
- Millersburgh, Christian Church, Church Records, 1831-1919
- Millersburgh, Methodist Episcopal Church Church Register, 1907-1931
- Millersburgh, Presbyterian Church Session Book, Register and ledger, 1818-1958
- Monroe County, Bethlehem Methodist Church, Member roster ca. 1853-54
- Moorefield, Concord Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1822-1886
- Morganfield, First Baptist Church Church Records, 1888-1963
- Morgantown, Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1857-1954
- Morgantown, Little Muddy Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1904-1954
- Morgantown, Morgantown Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1907-1954
- Morning View, Catholic Church. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Records, 1860-1925
- Mt. Vernon, McFarland Memorial Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1915-1936
- Muhlenberg County, A History of Unity Baptist Church
- Muhlenburg County Miscellaneous Church Information
- Munfordville, Presbyterian Church Minutes, 1829-1883
- Murray, Sinking Spring Baptist Church, Church Records, 1831-1971
- Newport, Catholic Church. St. Stephen Church Records, 1855-1924
- Newport, St. John's United Church of Christ Church Records, 1848-1933
- Newport, St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church Church Records, 1894-1947
- Newport, St. Paul's United Church of Christ Church Records, 1862-1950
- Nolin, Nolynn Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1857-1966
- Ohio County, Panther Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1815-1959
- Owensboro, First Baptist Church Church Minutes and Membership rolls, 1840-1963
- Owensboro, Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1876-1926
- Owenton, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Church Records, 1836-1981
- Owingsville, Menifee Memorial Church Church Records, 1876-1913
- Paducah, Aldersgate Methodist Church Church Records, 1930-1963
- Paducah, Broadway Methodist Church Church Records, 1953-1962
- Paducah, First Baptist Church Church Records, 1896-1961
- Paducah, Fountain Avenue Methodist Church Church Records, 1892-1963
- Paducah, Margaret Hank Memorial Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1928-1963
- Paducah, Northside Methodist Church Church Records, 1925-1963
- Paducah, Trinity Methodist Church Church Records, 1949-1963
- Paris, Christian Church, Church Records, 1840-1961
- Paris, First Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1811-1933
- Paris, Paris Baptist Church Records and Minutes, 1818-1833
- Pendleton County Church Records
- Pisgah, Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1808-1917
- Quicksand, Regular Baptist Church, Church Records, 1858-1888
- Radcliff, Stithton Baptist Church Church Records, 1889-1917, 1934-1968
- Reynolds Station, Haynesville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1932-1965
- Ruddles Mills, Methodist Episcopal Church, South Church Register, early to 1956
- Russellville, Bald Knob Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1872-1948
- Russellville, Russellville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1869-1923
- Salem, Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1805-1902
- Sanfordtown, Catholic Church. Guardian Angels Church Records, 1867-1994
- Scottsville, First Baptist Church, Church Records and minutes, 1841-1947
- Sedalia, Sedalia Methodist Church Church Records, 1894-1963
- Shelbyville, Baptist Church. Shelby County Association Minutes of the Shelby County Association of United Baptists
- Sligo, Baptist Church, Church Records, 1856-1986
- Smiths Grove, Smiths Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1857-1916
- Somerset, First Baptist Church Church Records, 1863-1963
- Somerset, Fishing Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1813-1949
- St. Paul United Church of Christ Surname index of Records, 1862-1916
- St. Vincent, Register of Deaths of Sacred Heart Church
- Stepstone, Catholic Church. Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Records, 1858-1912
- Taylorsville, Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1828-1910
- Threesprings, United Baptist Church Record of acts and proceedings
- Tompkinsville, Mill Creek Baptist Church Church Minutes, 1799-1953
- Trenton, Baptist Church, Church Record, 1823-1944
- Trenton, Mount Hermon Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1869-1901
- Trenton, Mt. Zion Baptist Church Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1857-1898
- Trimble County Minister's bonds, 1875-1994
- Trimble County, Corn Creek Baptist Church, Church Records, 1800-1894
- Utica, Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1844-1919
- Vine Grove, New Salem Baptist Church Church Records, 1852-1980
- Waddy, Pigeon Fork Baptist Church, Church Records, 1825-1968
- Warsaw, Catholic Church. St. Joseph Church Records, 1862-1995
- Washington County, Bethel Baptist Church Records 1817-1875
- Water Valley, Bayou de Chine Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1868-1925
- West Paducah, Milburn Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1900-1929
- White Plains, Mount Carmel Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1871-1905
- Whitesville, Whitesville Baptist Church, Church Records, 1826-1961
- Whitley County, Jellico Creek Baptist Church, 1846-1908
- Wilder, Catholic Church. St. John the Baptist Church Records, 1859-1924
- Winchester, Ephesus Baptist Church, Church Records, 1848-1973
- Wingo, Shady Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1888-1911
- Woodford County, Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Name Index
- Woodford County, Clear Creek Presbyterian Church, Church Records, 1828-1876
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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