Church Records
Note:
These pages list indexes available to the public at the Bolton History Centre, the home of the Archives and Local Studies Unit.
The left hand menu lists which indexes are available, or you can view the more detailed Archives Indexes contents page
Further indexes of use to Family historians
This section provides index lists of all ecclesiastical records held by Bolton Archive Service.
The links below take you to expanded lists organised by denomination. Alternatively you can scroll down the page.
- Church Of England
- Baptist Church
- Congregational Church
- Methodist Church
- Nonconformist Churches
- Presbyterian Church
- Religious Society Of Friends (Quakers)
- Roman Catholic Church
- Swedenborgian Church
- Unitarian Church
Search tip: if you are looking for something specific try using "Ctrl F". This will open a search box in your browser that will allow you to quickly jump to items of interest within any page (particularly effective if you use Firefox).
Church Of England
Detailed listing for Church of England indexes
Baptist Church
Astley Bridge
Astley Bridge Baptist Church (NB)
Registers 1903-1973
Bolton
Claremont (NB)
Registers, minutes, financial records, membership records, Sunday School records, Women’s League records 1869-1994
Moor Lane (NB & MF)
Registers, minutes, membership records 1814-1869
Queen Street Mission and Ragged School (FCH)
Registers, financial records, convalescent records, clog loan registers, photographs 1877-1980
Congregational Church
District Records
Bolton and District Congregational Council (NC)
Minutes and correspondence 1906-1950
Bolton and District Congregational Sunday School Union (NC)
Minutes 1878-1943
Bolton and District Group of Congregational Churches (NC)
Minutes, correspondence, accounts, cuttings 1917-1951
Astley Bridge
Bank Top (NC)
Minutes, accounts, membership records 1892-1970
Bolton
Blackburn Road (NC)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School, Social Club, membership, Scout Movement and Women’s Guild records 1885-1890
Dukes Alley (NC & MF)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, pew rentals, membership records 1785-1882
Kay Street Mission (NC)
Registers, minutes correspondence 1895-1958
Mawdsley Street (NC & MF)
Registers, Sunday School records 1831-1922
St George’s Road (NC)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, church manuals, membership records, trust deeds, Clothing Club records, Mutual Improvement and Literary Society records 1863-1977
Edgworth
Edgworth Independent (MF)
Microfilm copy registers 1807-1837
Farnworth
Francis Street (NC)
Minutes, accounts, membership records, pew records, Women’s Guild records 1868-1967
Market Street (NC & MF)
Registers, minutes, financial records, Sunday School records, Congregational Institute records, Social Club records 1809-1977
Halliwell
Chorley Old Road (NC)
Registers 1903-1990
Horwich
Lee Lane (MF)
Microfilm copy registers 1765-1894
New Chapel (MF)
Microfilm copy registers 1751-1836
Kearsley
Irwell Bank (NC)
Sunday School records 1853-1899
Turton
Egerton Independent (NC & MF)
Registers, manse and burial ground correspondence 1812-1939
Westhoughton
Bethel Independent (MF)
Microfilm copy registers 1826-1837
Methodist Church
District Records
Bolton and Rochdale Methodist District (NMBR)
Minutes, Women’s Fellowship and Work Council records, Synod directories, conference papers, district development records, correspondence 1934-1993
Circuit Records
Bolton, Albert Place United (NMUA)
Trust schedules 1924
Bolton, Hanover United (NMUH)
Minutes and trust schedules 1924-1935
Bolton, Higher Bridge Street Primitive (NMPB)
Minutes, trust schedules, financial records 1912-1951
Bolton, Higher Bridge Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, trust schedules, minutes, financial records, register of title deeds, correspondence 1789-1970
Bolton, Moor Lane Primitive (NMPM)
Trust schedules 1950-1955
Bolton, Park Street Wesleyan (NMWP)
Minutes, circuit and trust schedules, financial records, register of title deeds, circuit plans 1865-1977
Bolton, St George’s Road New Connexion (NMUS)
Circuit and trust schedules 1880-1924
Bolton, Wesley (Castle Street) Wesleyan (NMWW)
Minutes, circuit and trust schedules, financial records, register of title deeds, Women’s Work records, circuit plans 1857-1970
Farnworth Wesleyan (NMWF)
Minutes, financial records, visitation schedules,circuit plans, statistical records, directories 1868-1971
Horwich Primitive (NMPH)
Minutes and circuit plans 1892-1934
Ainsworth
Ainsworth New Connexion (NMUS)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1847-1980
Astley Bridge
Astley Bridge Wesleyan, Seymour Road (NMWB)
Minutes, school log books, financial records, pew rental 1852-1992
Bolton
Albert Place United (NMUA)
Registers, minutes, miscellanea 1858-1937
Back Foundry Street Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1895-1956
Bowkers Row United (NMUA)
Register 1868-1881
Bradshawgate Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers 1852-1905
Cable Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, membership records 1882-1971
Draycott Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1872-1902
Ebenezer New Connexion (MF)
Microfilm copy registers 1800-1837
Fern Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1871-1926
Fletcher Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, correspondence 1819-1972
Folds Primitive (NMPB)
Registers 1875-1941
Folds Road Independent (MF & NMXB)
Registers, minutes, Sunday School records, miscellanea 1824-1916
Foundry Street Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, accounts 1888-1962
Hanover and Gilnow Road United (NMUH)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1834-1972
Higher Bridge Street Primitive (NMPB)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1884-1952
Higher Bridge Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, deeds, Sunday School records 1798-1869
Kings Hall Mission (NMWM)
Registers 1919-1958
Moor Lane Primitive (NMPM)
Registers 1912-1947
Moss Street and Pikes Lane Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers 1867-1871
Park Street Wesleyan (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, correspondence 1862-1965
Peace Street Bible Christian (NMUH)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1892-1970
Ridgway Gates Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers 1814-1856
St George’s Road New Connexion (NMUS)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1845-1956
Slaterfield Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, correspondence 1866-1962
Spring Gardens Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers 1886-1905
Ulleswater Street Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1902-1979
Victoria Hall Mission (NMWM)
Concert programmes, reports, plan 1897-1945
Victoria Wesleyan, Grecian Crescent (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1868-1977
Breightmet
Breightmet Wesleyan (NMWW)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1848-1968
Darcy Lever
Darcy Lever Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, correspondence 1846-1871
Edgworth
Edgworth Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, correspondence 1844-1990
Entwistle
Entwistle Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, correspondence 1870-1966
Farnworth
Cawdor Street Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1901-1973
Egerton Street Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1881-1958
Halshaw Moor Wesleyan (NMWF)
Register 1838-1861
Market Street Wesleyan (NMWF)
Minutes, Sunday School records 1874-1954
New Bury Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1860-1967
Plodder Lane Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, correspondence 1885-1995
Queen Street Primitive (NMPF)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1871-1972
Victoria Hall Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1896-1964
Wesley Chapel (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, Sunday School records, choir records, pew and gallery rentals 1850-1971
Great Lever
Alder Street Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1931-1986
Starcliffe Primitive, Loxham Street (NMPF)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1885-1963
Halliwell
Brownlow Fold New Connexion (NMUS)
Registers 1874-1913
Chorley Old Road Wesleyan (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts, correspondence 1891-1967
Delph Hill Wesleyan (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, correspondence 1848-1976
Halliwell Road Wesleyan (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1844-1955
Harvey Street Primitive (NMPB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records1896-1968
Raphael Street Wesleyan, Brownlow Fold (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1867-1958
Harwood
Longsight Wesleyan (NMWW)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, Wesley Guild records, Band of Hope records, membership records 1840-1975
Tottington Road Primitive (NMPB)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, George Binns Ashworth Trust records, mission records 1839-1972
Horwich
Brunswick United (NMUH)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1890-1969
Chorley New Road Primitive (NMPH)
Registers, minutes, accounts, correspondence 1902-1965
Fall Birch Wesleyan (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1897-1970
Horwich Moor Primitive (NMPH)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1872-1991
Mason Memorial Primitive, Lee Lane (NMPH)
Registers, minutes, title deeds 1798-1935
St John’s Methodist (NMWP)
Minutes, correspondence 1969-1985
Victoria Wesleyan, Church Street (NMWP)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1894-1973
Kearsley
Kearsley Mount Wesleyan (NMWF)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1853-1991
Ringley Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, Band of Hope records 1857-1963
Little Hulton
Walkden Moor Wesleyan (MF)
Microfilm copy register 1803-1838
Little Lever
Little Lever Wesleyan (NMWF)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1917-1984
Lostock
Chew Moor Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1848-1892
Middle Hulton
Middle Hulton Wesleyan (NMWF)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1864-1959
St Helens Road Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1899-1986
Rumworth
Alexandra Street New Connexion (NMUS)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1880-1913
Daubhill Wesleyan, St Helens Road (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, correspondence 1862-1985
Deane Wesleyan, Wigan Road (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1927-1985
Melbourne Road New Connexion (NMUS)
Registers, minutes, accounts, correspondence 1914-1991
Zion Primitive, Daubhill (NMPM)
Registers, minutes, Sunday School records, correspondence 1884-1976
Tonge-with-Haulgh
Castle Hill Primitive (NMPB)
Minutes, accounts 1901-1946
Haulgh Wesleyan School Chapel (NMWW)
Registers 1877-1905
Tonge Moor Wesleyan (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, Sunday School records 1884-1964
Trinity Wesleyan, Tonge Fold (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, Missionary Society records, correspondence 1867-1987
Wesley Chapel, Castle Street (NMWW)
Registers, minutes, accounts, correspondence 1905-1988
Tottington Lower End
Hawkshaw Lane United and Wesleyan (NMWW)
Register, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1867-1931
Turton
Birtenshaw Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1853-1992
Egerton Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes 1847-1960
Westhoughton
Daisy Hill Primitive (NMPM)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records 1871-1985
Grove Lane Primitive (NMPM)
Registers, minutes, accounts 1874-1993
Trinity Wesleyan (NMWB)
Registers, minutes 1869-1967
Wingates Independent (NMXW)
Registers 1917-1998
Worsley
Worsley Road Primitive, Walkden (NMPF)
Minutes, accounts 1883-1978
Nonconformist Churches
Detailed listing for Nonconformist Church indexes
Presbyterian Church
Many local Presbyterian congregations adopted Unitarianism during the late eighteenth century and the records of these are listed below under the heading “Unitarian Church”. The former St Andrew’s Church, Bowkers Row, Bolton has closed and its congregation united with that of St George’s Road Congregational Church to form St Andrew and St George United Reformed Church.
Bolton
St Andrew’s, Bowkers Row (NP)
Registers, Kirk Session records, minutes, accounts, communicants’ rolls1838-1979
Scotch Chapel, Moor Lane (MF)
Microfilm copy register 1803-1818
Religious Society Of Friends (Quakers)
Marsden Monthly Meeting (MF)
Bolton lay within the administrative area of the Marsden Monthly Meeting, which was centred on the townships of Great and Little Marsden (now known as Nelson) in the Pendle area of Lancashire. Extensive records of the Marsden Monthly Meeting are available at the Lancashire Record Office, Preston.
Microfilm copy registers 1654-1893
Roman Catholic Church
Detailed listing for Roman Catholic Church indexes
Swedenborgian Church
Bolton
New Jerusalem, Higher Bridge Street, formerly Bury Street (NSW,MF, ZCR)
Registers, minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, pamphlets, religious tracts 1804-1916
Kearsley
Top o’th Brow, Ringley (MF)
Microfilm copy registers 1808-1831
Unitarian Church
Many of the Unitarian Churches in the Bolton area began as Presbyterian places of worship and converted to Unitarianism in the late eighteenth century. The records of these are included in this list. We also hold microfilm copies of the registers of a number of other local Unitarian churches and chapels, including Ainsworth, Bolton (Moor Lane), Rivington and Walmsley (Turton). Full details of these are given in our publication “Tracing Your Ancestors in Bolton”.
District Records
Bolton and District Council of Christian Congregations (NUL)
Minutes 1955-1972
North and East Lancashire Unitarian Mission (NUL)
General and executive committee minutes 1859-1973
Annual reports and financial statements 1863-1984
Treasurer’s letter books 1876-1894
Treasurer’s accounts 1870-1982
Blackpool North Shore Unitarian Church minutes 1960-1978
Darwen Bolton Road Unitarian Church minutes 1890-1892
Nelson Unitarian Church minutes 1904-1920
North Lancashire and Westmoreland Unitarian Association (NUL)
Minutes, accounts 1901-1948
Bolton
Bank Street (NUB & MF)
Microfilm copy registers, correspondence, accounts, Sunday School records, miscellanea 1723-1977
Unity Church, Deane Road (NUB)
Registers, minutes, annual reports, Church calendars, accounts, correspondence 1862-1975
Horwich
Horwich Free Church (NUH)
Minutes, accounts, Sunday School records, title deeds, legal papers 1890-1991
