Libraries and leisure

Introduction to Parish registers

Archives & Local Studies holds parish registers from nearly all Anglican churches in Hertfordshire. Some are also available on microfilm in Hertfordshire libraries.

Until civil registration began in 1837, parish registers are the only record of baptisms, marriages and burials throughout the United Kingdom (except for Jews and Quakers). Despite their earlier deficiencies and occasional gaps they form the principal source for genealogical information up to that time. In Hertfordshire there were 132 ancient parishes, each keeping separate series of registers. In addition to the ancient churches there are many more of modern origin, formed when parishes became more populous in the nineteenth century.


The practice of keeping registers of baptisms, marriages and burials began in the Church of England in 1538. However, of the 132 ancient parishes in Hertfordshire, only 16 have registers surviving from this date. The majority of the others date from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth’s reign in 1558.

Many registers are sadly defective during the Civil War and Commonwealth period 1643-1660 and the registers for the parishes of Caldecote, Ickleford and Sacombe do not survive before the eighteenth century. Serious fires at the parish churches of Northaw and All Saints Hertford severely damaged their registers. Please note that registers usually contain dates of baptisms not births and dates of burials not deaths.

The majority of the parish registers dated prior to 1900 have been microfilmed. These are available in the Family History Centre. Post-1900 registers are available for consultation in the Archive Reading Room.


Bishop’s Transcripts, or BTs are contemporary copies of the original parish registers made by the incumbent and sent to the bishop. Sometimes these survive where the registers do not.