Washington Church Records

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

To learn more about Church records in Washington, see Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Washington. Seattle, Wash.: Historical Records Survey, 1942. book 979.7 A3gc; fiche 6051172

The lists a few church records from Washington. To see those listed on the county level, add a comma to the search box and slide way down to the list of counties.

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

Baptist
American Baptist - Samuel Colgate Historical Library 1106 South Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14620-2532 Phone: (716) 473-1740 Fax: (716) 473-1740

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Early, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church records for Washington Wards and Branches can be found on film and are located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers, for each ward, can be locate through the FamilySearch 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.

Methodist
United Methodist Church Collins Memorial Library University of Puget Sound 1500 North Warner Tacoma, WA 98416 Phone: (253) 756-3669 Fax: (253) 756-3670 This library has records of ministers but not of church members.

For a history of the Methodists in Washington see Howell, Erle. Methodisim in the Northwest. Nashville, Tenn.: Pacific Northwest Conference Historical Society, 1966. 979 K2h

Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society Presbyterian Church U.S.A. 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 Phone: (215) 627-1852 Fax: (215) 627-0509

For a history of the Presbyterians in Washington, see Boyd, Robert. History of the Synod of Washington of The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America 1835-1909. Seattle, Wash.: The Synod, [1910?]. 979.7 K2p; film 1321456 item 4; digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.

Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Seattle Chancery Office 910 Marion Street Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: (206) 382-4560 Fax: (206) 382-4840

The archdiocese includes the counties of: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum and Whatcom.

Diocese of Spokane P.O. Box 1453 1023 W. Riverside Ave. Spokane, WA 99210-1453 Phone: (509) 358-7300

The diocese includes the counties of: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Spokane, Walla Walla and Whitman.

Diocese of Yakima 5301-A Tieton Drive Yakima, WA 98908-3493 Phone: (509) 965-7117

The diocese includes the counties of: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat and Yakima.

Historical Missions

 * St. Francis Regis Mission - Jesuit 1845-1945
 * St. Ignatius Mission- Jesuit 1845-1855
 * St. Mary's Mission - Jesuit 1886-1960
 * Tsimshian Mission 1838
 * St. Paul's Mission - Jesuit 1845-1865
 * Whitman Mission (near Walla Walla)