Kentucky Church Records

United States   Kentucky    Church

Church records and the information they provide vary greatly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as ages; dates of baptism, christening, or birth; death information; and marriage information such as a brides’ maiden name and the names of both sets of parents. Records may include other relatives who were witnesses or members of the congregation. The members of some churches were predominately of one nationality or ethnic group.

Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Kentucky were the Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and Presbyterian churches.

The Family History Library has copies of some original church records, as well as published transcripts and histories.

Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located.

Non-Denominational
Ruth E. Browning abstracted names and events from The Christian Messenger and created an every name index. The Christian Messenger was a religious newspaper during the 1800's which included "letters with information about the churches, obituaries, death notices, names of subscribers, letters from preachers, etc." The information abstracted from this newspaper came from several counties in Kentucky.

Baptist
The Baptist Churches in Kentucky have no central repository for their records. Baptist minutes and other records were kept by the clerk of each congregation. Many clerks considered the papers their personal property and upon their death their papers often became the property of their descendants. As a result, many Baptist records were lost or remain unaccounted for. A few clerks passed the records to their successors, and the records remained with the church. Some Baptist records have been donated to public libraries or historical and genealogical societies. At the Archives of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (formerly the Kentucky Baptist Historical Society) there are no congregation records, nor does staff know where specific congregation records may be found. The staff can, however, provide addresses of Kentucky congregations when the name of a church is known. The address of the archive is:

Archives of Kentucky Baptist Convention 10701 Shelbyville Road Middletown, KY 40243-0433 Telephone: 1-502-245-4101 The mailing address is: P.O. Box 43433 Louisville, KY 40253-0433

The major repository for Southern Baptist records in Kentucky is the Archives and Special Collections department of:

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Boyce Centennial Library 2825 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40280 E-mail: [mailto:boyce@sbts.edu boyce@sbts.edu]

It has Baptist Church histories and Southern Seminary information and photographs. It also has minutes from Baptist Churches and Baptist Church associations. Mostly the records are from Southern Baptists, but there are also records from American, "colored," and Primitive Baptist congregations. Minute books do not contain birth, marriage, or death information. They may, however, help to verify the membership of an individual, tell if someone was disciplined for offenses, or track the movement of a minister.

Minutes and sacramental records of some Southern Baptist congregations have also been sent to the following Tennessee archive:

Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives The Southern Baptist Convention Building 901 Commerce Street #400 Nashville TN 37203-3630 Telephone 1-615-244-0344

Histories of the Baptist Church in Kentucky include:


 * Baptists in Kentucky 1776–1976. A Bicentennial Volume Middletown Ky Kentucky Baptist Convention 1975 (Not at Family History Library)
 * Masters, Frank M. A History of Baptists in Kentucky. Louisville, Kentucky: Kentucky Baptist Historical Society, 1953. 976.9 K2ma This history is currently being brought up to date. It is indexed.
 * Spencer, John H. A History of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 800 Biographical Sketches. 2 vols. Cincinnati, Ohio: J. R. Baumes, [1886]. Digital versions of Volume 1 at Baptist History Homepage and Google Books; digital versions of Volume 2 at Baptist History Homepage and Google Books; 976.9 K2s. This book includes biographies and is indexed.

An 1899 directory of Baptist ministers lists biographical details about many ministers born or serving in the state:


 * The Ministerial Directory of the Baptist Churches in the United States of America. Oxford, Ohio: Ministerial Directory Co., 1899. Digital version at Google Books.

Other Kentucky Baptist collections include:

''Baptist Association Minutes: Collection of the Baptist Bible College-Mayfield, Kentucky- Associations in Kentucky, Tennessee, illinois and Other Miscellaneous Items. ''Murray, Kentucky : Special Collections Division, Murray State University, 1970.

Methodist
The state of Kentucky is covered by two Methodist conferences that oversee the missions and business of the church. The conferences have collected records from churches that have closed. Records of existing congregations are generally still in the churches. The Kentucky Annual Conference oversees the majority of the churches in Kentucky, while the Redbird Missionary Conference oversees the state’s Southeastern counties.

Kentucky Annual Conference 2000 Warrington Way Browenton Building, Suite 28 Louisville, KY 40222-340 Telephone: 1-502-425-388 Fax: 1-502-426-5181

Redbird Missionary Conference 6 Queendale Center Beverley, KY 40913 Telephone: 1-606-598-5915 Fax: 1-606-598-6405

For background information about the Methodist Church, see:


 * Arnold, William Erastus. A History of Methodism in Kentucky. 2 vols. Louisville, Kentucky: Herald Pub., 1935–1936. 976.9 K2a These books are indexed and contain a history of the Methodist Church before 1935.
 * Short, Roy H. Methodism in Kentucky. Rutland, Vermont.: Academy Books, 1979. (Not at Family History Library.)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Early church records, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for Kentucky Wards and Branches can be found on film and are located at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers, for each ward, can be locate through the Family History Library Catalog. Or by refering to Jaussi, Laureen R., and Gloria D. Chaston. Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers. 2 vols. Provo, Utah: Genealogy Tree, 1982. (FHL book 979.2258 A3j; fiche 6031507). These volumes contain the film numbers for many (but not all) membership and temple record films.

Roman Catholic
Records of existing Catholic parishes are generally kept in the individual churches, though copies of the sacramental records are sent to the appropriate diocese. Sacramental records include baptisms and confirmations, which may contain marriage and burial information as well as godparents’ names. The diocesan archives also have some school records. The state of Kentucky is served by the following four Catholic dioceses:

The Diocese of Covington serves the following Kentucky counties: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Fleming, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Owen, Pendleton.


 * Diocese of Covington Office of the Archive P.O. Box 18548 Erlanger, KY 41018-0548 Telephone: 1-606-283-6210 Fax: 1-606-283-6334

The Diocese of Lexington serves the following Kentucky counties: Anderson, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bourbon, Boyle, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford.


 * Diocese of Lexington 1310 West Main Street Lexington, KY 40508-2040 Telephone: 1-606-253-1993

Lexington is a relatively new diocese. It has copies of sacramental records from 1950 to the present; earlier records are in the Diocese of Covington.

The Archdiocese of Louisville serves the following Kentucky counties: Barren, Bullitt, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Hardin, Hart, Henry, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Oldham, Russell, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Washington.


 * Archdiocese of Louisville 212 East College Street Louisville, KY 40203 Telephone: 1-502-585-3291

The Diocese of Owensboro serves the following Kentucky counties: Allen, Ballard, Breckinridge, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, McCracken, McLean, Marshall, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren, Webster.


 * Diocese of Owensboro Catholic Pastoral Center 600 Locust Street Owensboro, KY 42301 Telephone: 1-502-683-1545

Histories:


 * Webb, Benjamin J. The Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky. Louisville, Ky.: Charles A. Rogers, 1884. Digital version at Internet Archive. 1980s reprint: 976.9 K2w. This work is indexed in:


 * Olson, Mary M. A Complete Index to Webb’s Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky: Including an Appendix on All Catholic Churches and Missions in Kentucky. Rineyville, Ky.: M.M. Olson, 1983. 976.9 K2w index


 * Spalding, M. J. Sketches of the Early Catholic Missions of Kentucky, 1787 to 1827. Louisville, Ky.: B.J. Webb &amp; Brother, 1844. Digital version at Internet Archive; 1980s reprint: 976.9 K2sp. Indexed by surname.

Presbyterian
The records of the Presbyterian Churches are kept in the individual congregations. Records are only centralized when a congregation wants to have records archived or when a church closes. Records that have been archived are sent to one of the following two repositories:

Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 Telephone: 1-215-627-1852

Presbyterian Historical Society 318 Georgia Terrace Montreat, NC 38757 Telephone: 1-828-669-7061 Fax: 1-828-669-5369 Their mailing address is: Presbyterian Historical Society P.O. Box 849 Montreat, NC 38757

The above-mentioned archives collect papers of ministers and session, trustee, and women’s missionary society records. These records may contain information about members’ baptisms, marriages, and communions. The staff at the archives do not do research; however, you can do research in person for a small fee. A published guide to the holdings of the archives is mentioned in the United States Church Records under the heading "Presbyterian."

The Presbyterian Church in Kentucky is coordinated by the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. The library of the seminary does not collect records of any congregations, but it does have ministerial directories with information on many ministers. The staff of the library can direct you to congregations in the state where records may be located. Inquiries to the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary should be directed to:

The Library Louisville Presbyterian Seminary 1044 Alta Vista Road Louisville, KY 40205 Telephone: 1-502-895-3411 Fax: 1-502-895-1096

For a history of early Presbyterians in Kentucky, see:


 * McDonnold, Benjamin Wilburn. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2nd ed. Nashville, Tennessee: Board of Publication of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1888. Digital version at Google Books; 976 K2m. This early church covered parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. The book is indexed.
 * Weeks, Louis. Kentucky Presbyterians. Atlanta, Ga.: John Knox Press, 1983. (Not at Family History Library.)

A collection of historical, biographical, and genealogical records of the Presbyterian Church in the early days of Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania is:


 * Shane Manuscript Collection. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1966–1967. (On 36 Family History Library films, beginning with 498615. An index to the Kentucky papers in this collection is:


 * Hall, William K. The Shane Manuscript Collection: A Genealogical Guide to the Kentucky and Ohio Papers. Galveston, Texas: Frontier Press, 1990. 974.811 A3h. This name index shows the Shane Manuscript reel number and the corresponding Family History Library film number.

For information on other denominations, see United States Church Records.