Maidstone parishes

[byron]

Would anyone be able to tell me whether Maidstone consisted of one or multiple parishes circa 1806? Also would this area be covered by the IGI?
I am looking for a Northampton stray.
regards
byron

[casalguidi]

Hi Byron

According to the book "East Kent Parishes", there was only the one C or E church in Maidstone c1806 - All Saints.  I am unsure of any IGI coverage.  You could check the following batch numbers page though I don't know if it is updated regulary:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers/CountryEngland.htm#PageTitle

There are some Maidstone marriages of strangers in the following index:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Emrawson/maidstone.html

I have found, on occasion, that persons giving their place of birth as Maidstone are often born in one of the more rural parishes outside the town but try Maidstone first.  See here for adjoining parishes:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mrawson/mapref.html

Good Luck

Casalguidi

[byron]

Thanks Casalguidi
I'll certainly check those links out.
Regards
byron

[Peter Shearan]

I am aswering your question about finding churches in Maidstone. As for most questions being asked on the net - try Google. I did and came up with the first answer: http://www.visit.maidstone.btinternet.co.uk/churches.htm

Although there was only one parish (ie Church of England) church in Maidstone at the beginning of the 19th century I am sure that there would have been many more of other denominations. The Anglican church was so worried about all the others that it persuaded the Government to subsidise the building of extra churches; the result was the Church Building Act of 1818 under which a million pounds was voted for the "building of commodious churches" for the masses (the ordinary folk) who had been leaving religion in droves. In 1828 Holy Trinity church in Maidstone was built with a subsidy of over £7000. Throughout the century, though, the Methodists, to name just one other church, matched the CofE building rate.

Hope this helps you and maybe others

Peter Shearan

[smer]

Hello

There is a Registration Distric of Maidstone which has many parishes - these included the small villages around the actual town of Maidstone.

My family were from East Farleigh, which is just to the west of Maidstone itself, but fell into the District of Maidstone.

Hope this is of assistance.

Sandra

[kated]

Hi,

What about Maidstone catholic parish records? Anyone know where they are to be found?

Thanks

Kate

[casalguidi]

Kate, have you contacted the Catholic church in Maidstone?

http://www.stfrancisparishmaidstone.fsnet.co.uk/ - interesting parish history page

There is also Holy Family, Maidstone South which covers 14 villages ............. no website that I can see but you can google.

The parent church, Archdiocese of Southwark

http://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/parlink.html

Casalguidi