Parish churches do not often have their old parish registers. Remember that the original parish records where were recorded on loose sheets of parchment and they may have been lost or destroyed over the years. Many original registers were removed to archives or universities during or after World War II as a safeguard. Bishop’s Transcripts, however, may often be found in the County Record Offices  (CROs) across the country. be aware that there have been boundary changes for the historic counties (shires), research the county in which the parish existed at the time your ancestors lived there.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has microfilmed most of the existing registers and these are being digitized and placed online at FamilySearch.org and indexed. the Society of Genealogists in London (SOG), www.sog.org.uk  has sought to compile copies of Parish registers and available copies can be researched at their facility.