Texas Church Records

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Historical Background
Before 1900, the largest religious groups in Texas were the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics.

Information Found in the Records
To effectively use church records, become familiar with their content. Click on these links to learn about a specific record type:

Look for online records.
'''Ancestry.com, Findmypast.com, and MyHeritage.com can be searched free of charge at your local family history center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

FamilySearch

 * Texas, Church Records, 1852-1994 - index and images, very incomplete
 * 1840-1981 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only.
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only.
 * 1903-1973 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only.

Dutch Reformed

 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Episcopal

 * Episcopal Diocese of Arizona church records : jurisdiction of New Mexico and Arizona, 1889-1971

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)

Methodist

 * New Mexico and Texas, Select United Methodist Church Records, 1870-1970 ($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Look for digital copies of church records in the FamilySearch Catalog.

 * The Family History Library (FHL) has a substantial collection of original church records and transcripts on microfilm for churches in the United States.
 * Online church records can be listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the state, county, or town.
 * If you find a record that has not yet been digitized, see How do I request that a microfilm be digitized?
 * Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.
 * To find records:
 * a. Click on the records of United States, Texas.
 * b. Click on Places within United States, Texas and a list of counties will appear.
 * c. Click on your county if it appears.
 * d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Click on Places within United States, Texas [COUNTY] and a list of towns will appear.
 * f. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * g. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * h. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

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Consult available finding aids.
These aids generally provide lists of records that are known to exist and information on their location. For a history of the Baptists in Texas, see: For a history of the Catholic Church, see: For a history of the Methodist Church, see:
 * A History of Texas Baptists., Carroll, James M. 2 vols. Dallas, Texas: Baptist Standard Publishing Co., 1923.
 * Fitzmorris, Mary Angela. Four Decades of Catholicism in Texas 1820-1860. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America, 1926.
 * History of Early Methodism in Texas, 1817-1866. Phelan, Macum. Nashville, Tenn.: Cokesbury Press, 1924.

Correspond with or visit the actual churches.
Some records are still held in the local churches. Contact the current minister to find out what records are still available.
 * Make an appointment to look at the records. Or ask the minister of the church to make a copy of the record for you.
 * To find church staff available, you might have to visit on Sunday.
 * Ask for small searches at a time, such as one birth record or a specific marriage. Never ask for "everything on a family or surname".
 * A donation ($25-$40) for their time and effort to help you would be appropriate.
 * If the church has a website, you may be able to e-mail a message.
 * See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.
 * Each denomination page offers an online address directory of local churches for that denomination.

Check the church records collections in archives and libraries.
Some church records have been deposited for preservation in government archives or in libraries. Watch for links to digitized, online records offered by the archives. Some archives provide research services for a fee. For others, if you cannot visit in person, you might hire a researcher. '''Here you will find archive information unique to the state. Many more archives are kept by denomination. For denominational archives, go to  Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

State Archives
Texas State Library and Archives Commission Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building Physical address: 1201 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701 Mailing address: P.O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711-2927 Phone: (512) 463-5455 E-mail: info@tsl.texas.gov
 * Genealogy Resources
 * Library Catalog

University Archives
The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History The University of Texas at Austin 2300 Red River St. Stop D1100 Austin TX, 78712-1426
 * Resources for Genealogy Research

Baptist
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary A. Webb Roberts Library 2001 West Seminary Drive Fort Worth, TX 76122 Phone: (817) 923-1921 (x3330) Fax: (817) 921-8754
 * Search the Catalog

Baylor University Moody Memorial Library Box 6307 Waco, TX 76703 Phone: (254) 710-2111 Fax: (254) 710-3116
 * Baptist and Religious Collection

Texas Baptist Historical Collection 209 N. 8th Street Waco, TX 76701 Phone: (254) 754-9446

Samford University Library 800 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, AL 35229 Telephone:205-726-2196 E-mail: referenc@samford.edu
 * Catalog of church records in Samford University libraries

Disciples of Christ
Brite Divinity School Collection Mary Couts Burnett Library Texas Christian University 2913 West Lowden Fort Worth, TX 76129 Phone: (817) 921-7117 Fax: (817) 921-7447
 * Search Engine

Lutheran
ELCA Region4-South Archives 1090 Oestreich Dr. Seguin, TX 78155

Phone:(830) 379-9900 E-mail: archives@swtsynod.org
 * Archives hold records for closed churches. For open churches write directly to the local church.

Methodist
Center for Methodist Studies United Methodist Historical Collection Bridwell Library Southern Methodist University 6005 Bishop Boulevard P.O. Box 750476 Dallas, TX 75275
 * Methodist Materials
 * Collection Catalog

Presbyterian
Presbyterian Theological Seminary Archives 100 E. 27th St. Austin, TX 78705
 * Library
 * Inventory of the Congregation History Collection Not alphabetical. Use your computer "Find" feature.

Roman Catholic
Catholic Archives of Texas 6225 E Hwy 290 Austin, TX 78723 Phone: 512-476-6296
 * Research Guidelines
 * "Due to the high volume of records requests, we are no longer accepting requests for genealogical purposes. Our records up to and including the year 1940 are open for that purpose. We welcome individuals willing to research genealogical records yourself. " Accessed 20 July 2020.

Diocese of Amarillo 4512 NE 24th Amarillo, TX 79107 P.O. Box 5644 Amarillo, TX 79117 Phone:806-383-2243 Fax 806-383-8452 The diocese includes the counties of: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher and Wheeler.
 * Sacramental Records "Request Form for Records" is in the left sidebar.

Diocese of Austin 6225 Highway 290 East Austin, TX 78723-1025 Phone: (512) 949-2400 The diocese includes the counties of: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Brazos, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Hamilton, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Llano, Mason, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Travis, Washington and Williamson
 * Archives
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. Complete and submit this form to the parish. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Locator.
 * Early sacramental records are on microfilm at the Catholic Archives of Texas.

Diocese of Beaumont P.O. Box 3948 Beaumont, TX 77704-3948 Phone: (409) 924-4300 The diocese includes the counties of: Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk and Tyler
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish List.

Diocese of Brownsville 1910 University Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: (956) 550-1517 The diocese includes the counties of: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Directory.
 * Early sacramental records are on microfilm at the Catholic Archives of Texas.

Diocese of Corpus Christi 620 Lipan Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Phone: (361) 693-6726 The diocese includes the counties of: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Find a Parish.

Diocese of Dallas 3725 Blackburn St. Dallas, TX 75219 Phone: (214) 528-2240 The diocese includes the counties of: Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro and Rockwell
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Find a Parish.

Diocese of El Paso 499 St. Matthews St. El Paso, TX 79907 Phone: (915) 872-8400 The diocese includes the counties of: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish List.

Diocese of Ft. Worth 800 West Loop 820 South Fort Worth, TX 76108 Phone: (817) 560-330 The diocese includes the counties of: Archer, Baylor, Bosque, Clay, Comanche, Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Erath, Foard, Hardeman, Hill, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Knox, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Tarrant, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger and Wise
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Finder.

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Archives Mail: P.O. Box 907 Houston, TX 77001 Physical address:Downtown Chancery 1700 San Jacinto Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713)-652-8283
 * Archives and Records
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Search.
 * Genealogy: 'Though the Catholic Church has been active in Texas since the 1500s, we have no sacramental records before 1840. While the Archdiocese of Galveston originally included all of Texas, our records cover only the present Archdiocese, as well as some parishes now in the Dioceses of Beaumont, Tyler, and Victoria. These records are open to researchers up to 1920. After 1920, the records are closed except to the person(s) named in the record, and proof of identity must be provided before we will issue a certificate. We do not provide sacramental certificates to genealogists, but we will provide copies of the records (if possible) or transcripts. There is no charge for the research. Requests for records may be submitted by phone, letter, email, or fax. We do not currently have facilities for researchers on site.
 * Closed Parishes: Please contact the Archives to request records from these churches. The Archives holds the records of the following closed parishes and missions:
 * Galveston: Catholic Chaplains Corps, Holy Rosary Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Queen of Peace/Reina de la Paz Mission, Sacred Heart Church, St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, St. Joseph Church, St. Patrick Church, St. Peter the Apostle Church.
 * Freeport--St. Henry Church,
 * Port Bolivar--Our Mother of Mercy Church,
 * Fayetteville--Espiritu Santo Mission

The Archdiocese includes the counties of: Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker and Waller

Diocese of Laredo 1901 Corpus Christi Street Laredo, TX 78043 Phone: (956) 727-2140 The diocese includes the counties of: Dimmit, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, Webb, Zapata and Zavala
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Map.

Diocese of Lubbock 4620 Fourth Street Lubbock, TX 79499-8700 Phone: (806) 792-3943 The diocese includes the counties of: Bailey, Borden, Cochran, Cottle, Crosby, Dawson, Dickens, Fisher, Floyd, Gaines, Garza, Hale, Haskell, Hockley, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Scurry, Stonewall, Terry and Yoakum
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Directory.

Diocese of San Angelo 804 Ford Street San Angelo, TX 76905 Phone: (325) 651-7500

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1829 San Angelo, TX 76902-1829 The diocese includes the counties of: Andrews, Brown, Callahan, Coke, Coleman, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Kimble, Martin, McCulloch, Menard, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Pecos, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Taylor, Terrell, Tom Green and Upton
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Finder.

Archdiocese of San Antonio 2718 W. Woodlawn San Antonio, TX 78228 Phone: (210) 734-2620 The Archdiocese includes the counties of: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, McMullen, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde and Wilson
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Locator.

Diocese of Tyler 1015 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701-9663 Phone: (903) 534-1077 The diocese includes the counties of: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Leon, Madison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Finder.

Diocese of Victoria P.O. Box 4070 1505 E. Mesquite Lane Victoria, TX 77901 Phone: (361) 573-0828 The diocese includes the counties of: Calhoun, Colorado, De Witt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Victoria, Wharton and Fayette
 * Each parish maintains its own sacramental records. You may find the contact information for parishes of this diocese by using the Parish Finder.
 * Early sacramental records are on microfilm at the Catholic Archives of Texas.

Correspond with genealogical or historical societies.
Some church records have been given to historical societies. Also, historical societies may be able to tell you where the records are being held. To find a society near you, consult these lists:
 * Society Hill List of Texas Societies

Next, go to the Wiki article for your ancestors' denomination.
There are frequently additional, nationwide or regional archives and online collections for each denomination. Find the article for your ancestors' denomination and follow the instructions there to access these sources.

Carefully compare any record you find to known facts about the ancestor
You will possibly find many different people with the same name as your ancestor, especially when a family stayed in a locality for several generations, and several children were named after the grandparents or aunts and uncles. Be prepared to find the correct church records by organizing in advance as many of these exact details about the ancestor as possible:
 * name, including middle name and maiden name
 * names of all spouses, including middle and maiden name
 * exact or closely estimated dates of birth, marriage, and death
 * names and approximate birthdates of children
 * all known places of residence
 * occupations
 * military service details

Carefully evaluate the church records you find to make sure you have really found records for your ancestor and not just a "near match". If one or more of the details do not line up, be careful about accepting the entry as your ancestor. There are guiding principles for deciding how to resolve discrepancies between records that are seemingly close. For more instruction in evaluating evidence, read the Wiki article, Evaluate the Evidence.