Nature of Source
What Are Bishop’s Transcripts?
Bishop’s Transcripts (commonly abbreviated as BTs) are annual duplicate copies of parish register entries of baptisms, marriages and burials sent by local parishes to the bishop of the diocese. These records are especially important particularly when original parish registers are missing or damaged. The churchwardens in each parish were officially responsible for preparing and submitting Bishop’s Transcripts to the diocesan bishop. BTs were supposed to be ‘true copies’ of the original registers, with a declaration formally signed by the churchwarden (or the churchwarden’s mark if illiterate) confirming their accuracy.
Historical Background
- 1538: Parish registration of baptisms, marriages, and burials was first introduced in England by the authority of Thomas Cromwell under King Henry VIII. However, the order to keep registers was largely ignored and compliance was erratic and inconsistent.
- 1597: A royal decree required all parishes to comply with the law and maintain official registers. In addition an order was made for parishes to send annual transcribed copies of these records to the bishop’s diocesan registry within one month of Easter each year. The decree did not apply in Scotland.
- 1598 Onward: The practice of sending bishop’s transcripts commenced in this year.
- 1649-1660 (Commonwealth Period): The state assumed responsibility for a new system of civil registration but in practice, many parishes continued to keep their own records informally. The state appointed civil registrars or parish clerks or to oversee the process. During this period Bishop’s transcripts were not compiled.
Key Research Points
- Bishop Transcripts are similar to parish registers and were intended as exact copies, but they may include additional information such as extra annotations or marginal notes.
- The survival rate of BTs vary widely by diocese but may survive where parish registers are missing or destroyed. In such cases, BTs may be the only available record of a baptism, marriage or burial. The use of BTs declined after the introduction of civil registration in 1837 with relatively few records surviving after the mid-1850s.
- Despite the formal start date of 1598, some earlier pre-1598 Bishop Transcripts may exist.
- In practice, bishop’s transcripts are often inaccurate and transcription errors are common. Clergymen often copied many month’s worth of entries all at once which increased the risk of mistakes. However, BTs can sometimes be easier to read than the original registers.
- It is important to note that diocesan boundaries often do not match modern county boundary.
- Generally BTs were not kept during the Commonwealth between 1641 and 1660.
Additional Resources
The following GenGuide sources could assist in researching Bishop’s Transcript records:
Where Found
County Record Offices
Most surviving Bishop’s Transcripts are held at local archives, holding both original parish registers and BTs.
Diocesan Archives
Most Bishop’s Transcripts have been transferred from diocesan archives to county record offices and local archives. However, some diocesan archives still retain their BTs.
Family History Societies
Local family history societies and reference libraries may also hold published transcripts or indexes of BTs.
Borthwick Institute for Archives
The archives holds a significant collection of Bishop’s Transcripts for the whole of Yorkshire accessible both in person and online.
Period Covered
1598 – 1860
Genealogical Value
Baptisms
- Name of the child
- Names of parents
- Baptism date
- Sometimes: place of abode, father’s occupation and officiating minister
Marriages
- Names of bride and groom
- Marriage date
- Sometimes: residences of both parties, names of witnesses and officiating minister
Burials
- Name of the deceased
- Burial date
- Sometimes: age at death, place of abode and cause of death
Further References
- Gibson, Jeremy. Bishops’ Transcripts and Marriage Licences, Bonds and Allegations: A Guide to their Location and Indexes (6th ed): The Family History Partnership, 2013 (Preview available from Google Books, 4th ed)
- Raymond, Stuart A. Tracing Your Church of England Ancestors: A Guide for Family and Local Historians: Pen & Sword Family History, 2017
Websites
Gloucestershire Archives
Bishop’s transcripts
Derbyshire Record Office
Bishops transcripts. A guide to finding bishops’ transcripts for Derbyshire and how they can help family historians.
Discovering English Ancestors
Bishop’s Transcripts (BTs)
English Ancestors
Bishop’s Transcripts. Making the most of transcripts and indexes.
Online Databases
- London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1924. This data collection consists of baptism records including Bishop’s Transcripts in the Greater London area compiled from sources held at The London Archives. This collection also includes registers of births and baptisms that occurred in workhouses operated by the Boards of Guardians.
- London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940. This data collection consists of marriage records including Bishop’s Transcripts in the Greater London area compiled from sources held at The London Archives.
- London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003. This data collection consists of death and burial records including Bishop’s Transcripts in the Greater London area compiled from sources held at The London Archives.
- Cheshire, Select Bishop’s Transcripts, 1576-1933.
- Yorkshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, 1538-1837.
- Diocese of Durham, Bishops’ Transcripts, ca. 1639-1919.
- Worcestershire, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812.
- Gloucestershire Baptisms, Marriages and Banns and Burials.
- Norfolk, Bishop’s Transcripts, 1579-1935.
- Wells, Somerset, Bishop’s Transcripts, 1594-1736.
- Lancashire Baptisms, Marriages, Banns and Burials, 1538-1986.
- Yorkshire, England, Bishops’ Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1558-1912.
- Wiltshire Marriages, 1538-1837. The index includes details extracted from a variety of sources including bishop’s transcripts.
- Kent Baptisms, Marriages and Banns and Burials. Included in this collection of records is the Archdeaconry of Canterbury.
- Yorkshire Parish Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts Browse
- Cheshire Diocese Of Chester Bishop’s Transcripts Baptisms, Burials and Marriages 1576-1906.
- Norfolk, Bishop’s Transcripts 1687-1901 Image Browse
- Durham Diocese Bishop’s Transcripts 1639-1919 Image Browse
- Shropshire, Kinnerley & West Felton Bishop’s Transcripts, Baptisms, Burials and Marriages 1630-1692.
- Durham Diocese Bishop’s Transcripts, 1639-1919
- Cheshire Bishop’s Transcripts, 1598-1900; Norfolk Bishop’s Transcripts, 1685-1941
- browsable images of Kent Bishop’s Transcripts, 1560-1911
- Northumberland Bishops Transcripts.
CD Roms
GenFair
The company offers a range of Bishop’s Transcripts records primarily from local family history societies and other specialist suppliers. Resources include indexes and transcriptions of Wiltshire Bishop’s Transcripts; Lincolnshire Bishop’s Transcripts for various deaneries and transcripts from the Diocese of Bath & Wells.
