Church Records

Catholic Church

Prior to the introduction of civil registration in 1864 the church recorded baptisms and marriages. The Parish Registers of the churches therefore play a very important part in family research. For most family history researchers, parish registers are the earliest direct source of family information.

The parish records of the Catholic Church are not public records and can only be viewed in local churches with the permission of the parish priest or the bishop. However, the Roman Cathoic Parish Records for the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore for the years up to 1880 are available on microfilm for viewing at Waterford City Library, Lady Lane, Waterford. These records are also available at the National Library in Dublin.

Waterford Heritage Centre created databases with the information from these records. The public are not allowed access the records but can commission the Centre to carry out a search of these records and other records they hold for a fee.

The list of all surviving Roman Catholic Church records for Waterford is published in John Grenham's book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors.

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland registers and records are public records (up to 1870) and as such can be consulted and copied. Records after that date remain the property of The Representative Church Body. (RCB) and while they may be consulted permission to make copies remains with the RCB. All Church of Ireland records for Waterford have been deposited with the RCB Library.

www.ireland.anglican.org/library/libroots.html

Methodist Church

Baptisms, marriages and burials were recorded in the Church of Ireland registers from 1747 until 1816. The Methodist Church in the area being researched should be contacted for records after 1816.

Presbyterian Church

The records of the Presbyterian Church can be found by contacting The Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. BT1.DW. NI.

www.presbyterianireland.org

The Society of Friends (Quakers)

The Society of Friends did not keep parish records. Instead they held monthly meetings at which they recorded any births deaths or marriages into a register. These registers are kept at the libraries of The Society of Friends in Dublin and Lisburn.

www.quakers-in-ireland.org

Jewish

There was a small Jewish community in Waterford.  The burial records (from 1715) and records of all synagogues in Ireland are held by The Irish Jewish Museum, South Circular Road, Dublin.