Diocesan Directory On-Line
with
Map of Deaneries
Locate a church near you
Research into Family History (aka Genealogy) is now a very popular pastime. Unless a church has a specific web page dedicated to genealogy on A Church Near You it is unlikely that the church will be able to help. Busy Parish Priests will appreciate it if you try the other helpful sources listed below.
If you wish to visit the church or churchyard, for example to find a grave or headstone, you would normally be very welcome. Please remember that our churches are places of worship still and services may be taking place at the time of your visit. Please treat the area around the church with respect. Churchyards may or may not allow dogs on leads.
This page is designed to provide a starting point for your research. The majority of parishes in the Diocese of Truro are in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly - only two are in Devon. Adjoining parishes are in Exeter Diocese.
Most churches have deposited their pre-1900
registers for baptisms, marriages and burials at the
Diocesan Records
Office at the Cornwall Records Office in Truro.
You may contact Paul Brough, County Archivist, County Records Office, Old County Hall, Truro
TR1 3AY. Email: cro@cornwall.gov.uk Tel: +44
(0) 1872 323127
The most comprehensive site for genealogy is GENUKI, the UK & Ireland Genealogy site, which lists extensive information about Church Records for Cornwall and Devon. If you look at the GENUKI page for the particular parish you are interested in, under "Church Records", you should find which registers have been lodged at the County Records office.
The Church of England website has some further "Anglican sources for tracing your family history"
The Family History Centre in Myddelton Street, London holds extensive Birth, Marriage and Death records.
The Library of the Society of Genealogists in London holds copies of some registers.
The International Genealogical Index (IGI) is held by most family history centres, and includes Cornish records.
There are numerous web-sites with Family History Information. Cyndi's List is a good starting point.
For very recent register entries (i.e. within the last 20-50 years) you may be able to contact the parish priest if he has an email address or alternatively by snail mail at the address given on A Church Near You. You should be aware that fees will be charged for searches.
Cornwall County Records Office at Old County Hall, Truro - see particularly the Family History page
Cornwall Family History Society at 5 Victoria Square, Truro
Cornwall Centre for Cornish Studies at Alma Place, Redruth
Royal Cornwall Museum in River Street, Truro
LDS Family History Centres at Helston and St. Austell
West Country Studies Library in Exeter
Devon Family History Society in Exeter