Virginia, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records from various denominations in Virginia for the years 1656 to 1968. Most of the church records are Presbyterian or Quaker. The contents and time period vary by location.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Event dates and places
 * Names of parents, children, other family members, and witnesses
 * Ages
 * Places of residence
 * Previous residences
 * Relationships

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor.
 * The location of the congregation or parish.
 * The approximate date of the event
 * The religion in which your ancestor participated.

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 the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Virginia.
 * Virginia Guided Research
 * Virginia Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Virginia Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Gerald P. Gaidmore, A guide to church records in the Library of Virginia 2nd ed., rev. and enl. Richmond, Virginia : Library of Virginia, c2002 FHL 975.5 K23g

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * prepared by the Virginia Historical Records Survey Project, Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration Inventory of the church archives of Virginia : Dover Baptist Association Richmond, Virginia : Historical Records Survey (Virginia), 1939

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.