Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes in Luzerne County

 * FamilySearch Places

Databases with Several Denominations

 * 1620-1991 (*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images


 * 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – ($), free to members of the society, List of Churches Included; Also available at Ancestry ($)

Baptist
The first Baptist services were held in Wilkes-Barre in 1842. The Kingston congregation was eventually absorbed in the Wilkes-Barre and Pittston churches. The Centennial Baptist was organized in 1874.

Catholic Church
The Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Inc. located in Wilkes-Barré, Luzerne County, in partnership with the Diocese of Scranton, has digitized the Sacramental & Burial records of all Catholic churches within the Diocese eleven county area, including Luzerne County. The digitized parish records can be viewed at NEPGS in Wilkes-Barré. The oldest Catholic church in Luzerne County is Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Wilkes-Barre.

The Greek community purchased the Lutheran Church on 32 East Ross Street in Wilkes-Barre on May 29, 1924.
 * History of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Wilkes-Barre

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Nanticoke
 * Plymouth

Episcopal/Anglican Church
The first Episcopalian services were held in 1814 in Wilkes-Barre. The church was chartered in 1817, as St. Stephen's Church. In 1869, St. Clement's was established.


 * St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Records, Wilkes Barre, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Lutheran Church
Lutheran congregations were primarily German until 1857. St Paul's and St. Johns were the early congregations.


 * 1813-1876 Wapwallopen Union Reformed Lutheran Church (Old River Church) Baptismal Records 1813 to 1876 Luzerne County, Pennsylvania at The USGenWeb Project
 * St. John's Lutheran Church Records, Butler Township, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Methodist Church
African Methodist Episcopal The African Methodist Episcopal and the African Methodist Episcopalian Zion congregations were established in Wilkes-Barre in 1842.

Methodism was first preached by Anning Owen in 1788 in Luzerne County. Congregations were in Wilkes-Barre, Hanover, Newport, and the Plains. The Methodists purchased the old building on the square in Wilkes-Barre from the Presbyterians in 1831. This church was called the First Methodist Episcopal. A new building was completed in 1847. The Ross Street Methodist Episcopal was formed and built in 1855. Lists of leading members are found in Munsell's history.
 * History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers. W.W. Munsell. New York: Munsell, 1880. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books.

Moravian
The Moravians were in the area very early, before 1763. The outbreak of the French War forced the missionaries from the county.

Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian congregation was first served by Jacob Johnson from Groton, Connecticut in 1773. He helped begin the construction of the First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes Barre. It was finally completed in 1812 and was called "The Old Ship Zion". Other Connecticut ministers who served were Jabez Chadwick and James W. Woodworth. The congregation was partially Congregationalist until about 1829 when it became fully Presbyterian. Other early congregations were found in Nanicoke, Pittston and Ashley. Some lists of members are found in the Munsell history of Luzerne County.

Hazleton Presbyterian Church
 * Hazleton Presbyterian Church Records, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Presbyterian Church, Conyngham
 * 1842-1875  in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - index
 * 1846-1886 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - index

Snowden Memorial Presbyterian Church, Larksville
 * 1870-1881  in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - index
 * 1871-1875  in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - index