LibGuides: Episcopal Congregation History Research Guide: Virginia Sources

Virginia Sources

Published records (if they exist) may be searchable in the BPL catalog, try searching there.

Original Parish records for Virginia churches are likely to be held in one of three places:

The Churches Themselves -- contact the church to learn about the records they may hold.
The Library of Virginia -- visit their catalog and website to learn about which parish records they might hold. There are records from over 300 churches (of all denominations) dating from the 17th to the 20th century. See their published "A Guide to Church Records in the Archives Branch, Virginia State Library," in our archives.
The Virginia Historical Society -- check their website to learn about which parish records they might hold.

A Guide to Episcopal Church Records in Virginia by Edith F. Axelson
Call Number: REF F 225 .A969 1988
Publication Date: 1988
This guide summarizes Episcopal church records held by churches, libraries, and archives in Virginia, organized by county. Search the index for the name of your church.
Index to the Journals of the Diocese of Virginia 1785 - 1892 by Vernon Perdue Davis
Call Number: REF BX 5918 .V8 A3 1785-1835, 1836-1892 vols. 1-2
Publication Date: 1987
These two volumes provide an index to the Virginia Diocesan Journals. Search the index for references to your church, and then you will be able to more quickly navigate the journals themselves.
Old churches, ministers, and families of Virginia by William Meade
Call Number: REF F 225 .M481 1966 vols. 1-2
Publication Date: 1966 (reprint, 1857)
This book contains an extensive index.
Parish Lines, Diocese of Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, and Southern Virginia by Charles Francis Cocke
Call Number: REF BX 5918 .V8 C6 Vols. 1-3
Publication Date: 1960-7
These three volumes present the history and background of the Virginia dioceses and parishes. Use the index at the back to search for references to your church. Vernon Perdue Davis wrote an alternative version to Cocke's edition, held in the VTS Archives.