Parish records are a great source for checking historical information about baptisms, marriages and burials.

Records are usually kept by the individual parish in which the baptism, marriage or burial took place.

Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives is responsible for caring for historical parish records and registers, including those from parishes that are now closed or redundant.

Most parish registers of the Diocese of Manchester (including Manchester Cathedral) are now available online at ancestry.co.uk.

This includes digitised original registers and a name index of baptisms (1500s-1915), marriages (1500s-1930) and burials (1500s-1985). Free access to ancestry.co.uk is available from any Manchester City Council library. Parish registers are not always complete and in some cases, registers are still held by parishes.

Archives+ Heritage Collections Manager
Community and Cultural Services
Growth and Neighbourhoods Directorate
Manchester City Council

Central Library
PO BOX 532
Albert Square
Manchester
M60 2LA