Pennsylvania, Church Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records from various denominations in Pennsylvania for the years 1682 to 2009. Some of the representative churches include:
 * St. Johns (Hains) Reformed Church (Lower Heidelberg Townshp, Berks County)
 * Great Island Presbyterian Church (Lockhaven)
 * Covenant Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia)
 * Zion Lutheran Church (Dushore)
 * Society of Friends, Falls Monthly Meeting (Fallsington)
 * Moravian Church (York)
 * Marshallton Methodist Episcopal Church (West Bradford)
 * Lower Bermudian Reformed Church (Latimore Township)
 * First Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh)

What Can these Records Tell Me?
Church records may include:
 * Names of individuals
 * Dates for baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials
 * Names of parents and or spouse
 * Birthplace of parents and or spouse
 * Gender

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date for an event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Search for other vital records, such as birth, marriage and death on the state or county level
 * Search for land and probate records in the county where the family lived
 * Use the information found in church records to search for the family in census records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Pennsylvania Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.