Roman Catholic records London

[LizzieW]

Yes - that surname confusion is just what you don't need when you are looking for RC ancestors!

Fortunately, he is the only one I've had confusion with regarding his name and apart from my OH's 3 x g.grandparents, the only one who is RC (well OH's ancestors definitely were, don't know about my g.grandfather, just another speculative avenue to follow).

Lizzie

[Ottawa_John]

I just got a Roman Catholic record from
Administrative Archivist Westminster Diocesan Archives
16a Abingdon RoadKensingtonLondonW8 6AFTel: 0207 938 3580
Normal Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 9:30am-5:30pm.
We are open to the public by appointment only on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

The lady there was very helpful and I was directed there by a parish priest in Whitechapel.

[MarieC]

Excellent information, Ottawa_John, for those who can visit!  (Bit difficult, from Australia!)

If anyone comes across the 18th century origins of Roman Catholics Thomas Martin and Agnes Jenkins, who married in London in 1802, do let me know!  I'll probably never find them, as I don't think RC records exist from the 1760s and 70s, but I cling to faint hopes...

MarieC

[Suffolk Mawther]

An American friend who has researched RC records in the UK tells me that she sends a written request to the church of her ancestral search, together with a small donation to the church funds, and a self addressed envelope.

She has been very successful in finding records. 

I have yet to try this, but once I have located the church I need in London I will try this method too 

Pat ...

[Valda]

Hi

If you look at the burial guide on the Rootschat London and Middlesex boards it has a section on Roman Catholic records linking to the diocesan archivists and also each diocesan directory which lists the churches and addresses websites etc and any online lists of records they hold from churches, the Catholic library and its holdings and the Catholic History Society (the links and information are not just about burial records).

Westminster Archives list of Roman Catholic registers give an indication of just how early surviving registers can be.

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/workspace/assets/publications/Info-Sheet-02-Catholic-Regs-1271423092.pdf

The Guildhall Library also have some early published transcripts of Catholic registers. The Catholic Record Society produced some transcripts in the C19th but usually in their original latin.

e.g. online

Includes the registers of Bruno Cantrill, in London, 1726-55.--J.A. Smallwood, in London, 1730-50.--A.P. Baker, near Lincoln's Inn Fields; 1747-73.--Lincoln's Inn Fields chapel, (Sardinian chapel) 1731-1822.

http://www.archive.org/details/miscellanea05britgoog


Regards

Valda

[MarieC]

Thanks for this, Valda!

I will investigate a bit further - though I have no idea where in London my folks might have been before St James Spanish Place!!!

MarieC

[susan56]

Hi I have just signed up on this site

I am the daughter of Harry James Venables.
My Granddad is Sidney Richard Venables
Grandmother Ada madaline Copley

Susan