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 March, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD):
- Abiquiu, Catholic Church, Santo Tomás Apóstol Baptismal Records, 1832-1861
- Abiquiu, Catholic Church, Santo Tomás Apóstol Church Records, 1777-1956
- Acoma, Catholic Church, San Esteban Church Records, 1725-1777
- Alameda, Catholic Church, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Church Records, 1936-1956
- Alamogordo, Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception Church Records, 1904-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Annunciation of Blessed Virgin Mary Church Records, 1955-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Holy Family Church Records, 1953-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Holy Ghost Church Records, 1951-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception Church Records, 1883-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Fatima Church Records, 1949-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1946-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Assumption Church Records, 1954-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church Records, 1950-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Regina Coeli Church Records, 1951-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Church Records, 1900-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Saint Anne Church Records, 1929-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus Church Records, 1947-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, San Felipe Church Records, 1703-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, San Ignacio Church Records, 1925-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, San Jose Church Records, 1928-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, St. Charles Borromeo Church Records, 1887-1956
- Albuquerque, Catholic Church, St. Francis Xavier Church Records, 1928-1956
- Albuquerque, San Felipe de Neri Church, Marriages
- Anthony, Catholic Church, St. Anthony Church Records, 1899-1956
- Anton Chico, Catholic Church, San José Church Records, 1857-1956
- Arroyo Hondo, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Church Records, 1852-1869
- Arroyoseco, Catholic Church, Holy Trinity Church Records, 1946-1956
- Artesia, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Grace Church Records, 1946-1956
- Artesia, Catholic Church, St. Anthony Church Records, 1914-1956
- Bayard, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Fatima Church Records, 1954-1956
- Belen, Catholic Church, Nuestra Señora de Belen Church Records, 1793-1956
- Bernalillo County, Baptisms by Surname
- Bernalillo, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Church Records, 1700-1712
- Bernalillo, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Church Records, 1846-1956
- Carlsbad, Catholic Church, San Jose Church Records, 1896-1956
- Carlsbad, Catholic Church, St. Edward's Church Records, 1915-1956
- Carrizozo, Catholic Church, Santa Rita Church Records, 1869-1956
- Central, Catholic Church, Santa Clara Church Records, 1919-1956
- Cerrillos, Catholic Church, St. Joseph Church Records, 1933-1956
- Cimarron, Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception Church Records, 1954-1956
- Clayton, Catholic Church, St. Francis Xavier Church Records, 1907-1956
- Clovis, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1944-1956
- Clovis, Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Records, 1906-1956
- Cochiti, Catholic Church, San Buenaventura Mission Church Records, 1736-1873
- Colfax County, Records of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1867-1918
- Columbus, Catholic Church, Sagrada Familia Church Records, 1919-1953
- Costilla, Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Church Records, 1865-1956
- Dawson, Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Church Records, 1917-1950
- Deming, Catholic Church, Holy Family Church Records, 1902-1956
- Deming, Catholic Church, St. Ann's Church Records, 1935-1956
- Dixon, Catholic Church, St. Anthony Church Records, 1934-1956
- Dona Ana, Catholic Church, Our Lady Purification Mission Church Records, 1859-1956
- El Rito, Catholic Church, San Juan Nepomuceno Church Records, 1869-1956
- Embudo, Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1889-1900
- Episcopal Diocese of Arizona Church Records : jurisdiction of New Mexico and Arizona, 1889-1971
- Española, Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Records, 1950-1956
- Fort Stanton, Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Church Records, 1927-1956
- Galisteo, Catholic Church, St. Mary's Church Records, 1711-1829
- Garfield, Catholic Church, San Isidro Church Records, 1941-1956
- Guadalupe County, Baptisms by Surname
- Hanover, Catholic Church, Holy Family Church Records, 1925-1956
- Hobbs, Catholic Church, St. Helena Church Records, 1938-1956
- Holman, Catholic Church, San Isidro Church Records, 1941-1956
- Hurley, Catholic Church, Divine Infant Jesus Church Records, 1916-1956
- Isleta, Catholic Church, St. Augustine Church Records, 1726-1956
- Jal, Catholic Church, St. Cecilia Church Records, 1951-1956
- Jemez Pueblo, Catholic Church, San Diego Church Records, 1701-1956
- Jemez Springs, Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Assumption Church Records, 1947-1956
- La Joya, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Church Records, 1871-1956
- La MesaCatholic Church, San Jose Church Records, 1877-1956
- Laguna, Catholic Church, Church Records, 1700-1776
- Las Cruces, Catholic Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Records, 1950-1956
- Las Cruces, Catholic Church, St. Genevieve's Church Records, 1859-1956
- Las Vegas, Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception Church Records, 1884-1956
- Las Vegas, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Records, 1852-1956
- Las Vegas, First Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1869-1880
- Las Vegas, Spanish Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1880-1891, 1932
- Lordsburg, Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Church Records, 1916-1956
- Los Alamos, Catholic Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Records, 1946-1956
- Lovington, Catholic Church, Saint Thomas Church Records, 1950-1956
- Magdalena, Catholic Church, St. Mary Magdalen Church Records, 1919-1956
- Manzano, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Church Records, 1858-1956
- Mescalero, Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Mission Church Records, 1914-1956
- Mesilla Park, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1919-1954
- Mesilla, Catholic Church, San Albino Church Records, 1852-1956
- Monticello, Catholic Church, San Ignacio Mission Church Records, 1869-1956
- Mora County, Baptisms by Surname
- Mora, Catholic Church, Santa Gertrudis Church Records, 1856-1956
- Mora, Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1882-1905
- Mosquero, Catholic Church, San Jose Church Records, 1894-1956
- Mountainair, Catholic Church, St. Alice Mission Church Records, 1912-1956
- Nambe, Catholic Church, Church Records, 1707-1869
- Navajos in the Catholic Church Records of New Mexico, 1694-1875
- New Mexico, Catholic Church Records, 1701-1956
- Ocate, Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1892-1899
- Park View, Catholic Church, St. Joseph Church Records, 1883-1956
- Pecos, Catholic Church, San Antonio Church Records, 1699-1956
- Pena Blanca, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1841-1956
- Penasco, Catholic Church, San Antonio Church Records, 1859-1956
- Picuris, Catholic Church, St. Lawrence Mission Church Records, 1726-1867
- Pojoaque, Catholic Church, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church Records, 1774-1853
- Portales, Catholic Church, St. Helen Church Records, 1952-1956
- Questa, Catholic Church, St. Anthony Church Records, 1941-1956
- Ranchos de Taos, Catholic Church, St. Francis of Assisi Church Records, 1937-1956
- Raton, Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Church Records, 1920-1956
- Raton, Catholic Church, St. Patrick's Church Records, 1891-1956
- Raton, First Presbyterian Church Church Records, 1885-1847
- Ribera, Catholic Church, San Miguel Church Records, 1846-1956
- Rio Arriba County, Baptisms by Surname
- Rodey, Catholic Church, St. Francis de Sales Church Records, 1889-1956
- Roswell, Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Church Records, 1903-1956
- Roswell, Catholic Church, St. Peter's Church Records, 1903-1956
- Roy, Catholic Church, Holy Family Church Records, 1918-1956
- Ruidoso, Catholic Church, St. Eleanor Church Records, 1948-1956
- San Felipe, Catholic Church, San Felipe Mission Church Records, 1726-1860
- San Geronimo, Catholic Church, San Geronimo Mission Church Records, 1937-1954
- San Ildefonso, Catholic Church, San Ildefonso Mission Church Records, 1703-1880
- San Juan, Catholic Church, San Juan de los Caballeros Church Records, 1726-1956
- San Miguel County, Baptisms by Surname
- San Miguel, Catholic Church, Parish Registers, 1820-1847
- Sandia, Catholic Church, Nuestra Senora de los Dolores Church Records, 1771-1864
- Sandoval County, Baptisms by Surname
- Santa Ana, Catholic Church, Santa Ana Mission Church Records, 1694-1844
- Santa Clara, Catholic Church, Santa Clara Mission Church Records, 1726-1880
- Santa Cruz, Catholic Church, Holy Cross Church Records, 1726-1956
- Santa Fe County, Baptisms by Surname
- Santa Fe, New First Presbyterian Church, Transcriptions of Original Records 1866-1902
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, Cathedral of San Francisco de Asis Births or Christenings, 1747-1763
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, Cathedral of San Francisco de Asis Births or Christenings, 1753-1770
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, Cathedral of San Francisco de Asis Church Records, 1726-1956
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, Cristo Rey Church Records, 1939-1956
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1881-1956
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, St. Anne Church Records, 1943-1956
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Church Records, 1953-1956
- Santa Fe, Catholic Church, St. Vincent Hospital Church Records, 1887-1956
- Santa Rita, Catholic Church, Santa Rita Church Records, 1916-1956
- Santa Rosa, Catholic Church, Santa Rosa Church Records, 1896-1956
- Santo Domingo, Catholic Church, Santo Domingo Mission Church Records, 1771-1869
- Silver City, Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Records, 1874-1956
- Socorro County, Baptisms by Surname
- Socorro, Catholic Church, San Miguel Church Records, 1821-1956
- Springer, Catholic Church, St. Joseph Church Records, 1882-1956
- Taos, Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1701-1956
- Tesuque, Catholic Church, San Diego Mission Church Records, 1694-1728
- Tome, Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church Records, 1793-1956
- Tortugas, Catholic Church, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1917-1956
- Truchas, Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Rosary Church Records, 1955-1956
- Tularosa, Catholic Church, St. Francis of Paula Church Records, 1867-1956
- Valencia County, Baptisms by Surname
- Vaughn, Catholic Church, St. Mary's Church Records, 1937-1956
- VillanuevaCatholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Records, 1919-1956
- Wagon Mound, Catholic Church, Santa Clara Church Records, 1872-1956
- Zia, Catholic Church, Lady of the Asumption Church Records, 1694-1772
- Zuni, Catholic Church, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church Records, 1697-1776
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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