Cornwall Baptisms

Each record contains a transcript of the original record. The information can vary but you could find out the following about your ancestor:

• Name

• Year of birth

• Date of baptism

• Gender

• Mother’s name

• Father’s name

These records contain the details of 1,084,155 baptisms in Church of England parishes and other denominations across Cornwall.

Although the Church of England was the established church in Cornwall a huge percentage of the population turned to Methodism and other so-called non-conformist protestant denominations. The largest of these smaller groups is the Bible Christian Movement.

By the mid 19th century there were more Methodists than Anglicans in Cornwall. Methodism was especially dominant in the mining districts of Western Cornwall.

Before 1837, regardless of religious beliefs, most people were baptised, married and buried in the local Church of England Parish. Despite differences in belief and even after the Toleration Act of 1689 which granted freedom to worship, many non-conformists continued to use their local parish church for registration purposes.

However, some non-conformists did keep their own registers, particularly baptism and burial registers, in the period between 1689 and 1837. Between 1754 and 1837 is was illegal to marry anywhere except in a Church of England parish Church unless you were a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) or Jewish. In both cases members were exempt from the Act and allowed to keep their own records.

After 1837, while people were now allowed to marry in the church of their choice, some organisations still did not keep their own records.

Transcripts with thanks to the Cornwall Family History Society

A full list of the parishes and denominations covered is available below

Advent

Altamum

Altony

Baidhu

Blisland

Boconnoc

Bodmin

Bodmin – Providence Chapel – Lady Huntington

Bodmin Circuit – Wesleyan

Bolventor

Botus Fleming

Boyton

Braddock

Breage Circuit – Bible Christian

Bude

Budock

Callington

Calstock

Camborne

Camborne Circuit – Wesleyan

Canworthy Water Circuit – Bible Christian

Cardinham

Carharrack – Wesleyan Methodist

Carnmellis

Cawsand – Independent

Chacewater

Charlestown

Colan

Constantine

Cornelly

Crantock

Creed

Crowan

Cubert

Cuby with Tregony

Cury

Davidstow

Devoran

Duloe

East Looe – Wesleyan

Egloshayle

Endollion

Falmouth

Falmouth – All Saints

Falmouth – Independent

Falmouth – Wesleyan

Falmouth Circuit – Bible Christian

Feock

Flushing

Flushing – Wesleyan

Forrabury

Fowey

Fowey – Mount Zion – Independent

Germoe

Gerrans

Godolphin

Golant – St Sampson

Gorran

Grade

Guival

Gunwalloe

Gwennap

Gwinear

Gwithian

Haisetown

Hayle

Hayle – Copperhouse Chapel – Wesleyan Methodist

Helland

Helston

Helston – Coinage Hall Street – Baptist

Helston Circuit – Wesleyan

Herodsfoot

Hessenford

Illogan

Isles of Scilly

Isles of Scilly – Bible Christian

Isles of Scilly – St Mary’s – Baptist

Isles of Scilly – St Mary’s – Hugh Town – Wesleyan

Jacobstow

Kea

Kenwyn

Kilkhampton

Kilkhampton Circuit – Bible Christian

Kilkhampton Circuit – Wesleyan Methodist

Ladock

Lamorran

Landewednock

Landrake

Landrake with St Erney

Landulph

Laneast

Lanherne – Roman Catholic

Lanhydrock

Lanivet

Lanlivery

Lanner

Lanreath

Lansalios

Lanteglos By Camelford

Lanteglos By Fowey

Launcells

Launceston – Castle Street – Independent

Launceston – St Mary Magdalene

Launceston – St Mary Magdalene – Wesleyan

Lawhitton

Lesnewth

Lewannick

Lezant

Linkinhorne

Liskeard

Liskeard Circuit – Wesleyan Methodist

Little Petherick

Looe

Lostwithiel

Lostwithiel – Independent

Ludgvan

Luxulyan

Luxulyan Circuit – Bible Christian

Mabe

Madron

Malier

Manaccan

Marazion

Marhamchurch

Mawgan In Meneage

Mawgan In Pydar

Mawnan

Menheniot

Merther

Mevagissey

Mevagissey – Independent

Michaelstow

Michaelstow Circuit – Bible Christian

Millbrook

Minster

Mithian

Morvah

Morval

Morwenstow

Mount Hawke

Mullion

Mylor

Mylor Bridge – Wesleyan

Newlyn East

Newquay

North Hill

North Petherwin

North Tamerton

Otterham

Padstow

Padstow – Wesleyan Methodist

Par

Paul

Pelynt

Pencoys

Pendeen

Penharget Chapel

Penponds

Penryn – New Street – Independent

Penryn – Wesleyan

Penwerris

Penzance

Penzance – East Street Lower Meeting

Penzance – St John

Penzance – St Paul

Penzance – Wesleyan

Penzance Circuit – Bible Christian

Perranarworthal

Perranuthnow

Perranzabulor

Phillack

Philleigh

Pillaton

Polperro – Wesleyan Methodist

Porthleven

Portscatho – Independent

Poughill

Poundstock

Probus

Probus – Wesleyan

Quaker births

Quethiock

Rame

Redruth – Primitive Methodist

Redruth – St Andrew

Redruth – St Uny

Redruth – Wesleyan Methodist

Roche

Ruan Lanihorne

Ruan Major

Ruan Minor

Saltash

Saltash – Wesleyan

Sancread

Sennan

Sheviock

Sithney

South Hill

South Petherwin

St Agnes

St Agnes – Goonown Chapel – Wesleyan

St Agnes – Peterville – Independent

St Allen

St Anthony In Meneage

St Anthony In Roseland

St Austell

St Austell – Independent

St Austell – Wesleyan

St Blazey

St Breock

St Breward

St Buryan

St Cleer

St Clement

St Clether

St Columb Major

St Columb Major – Bethesda Chapel – Independent

St Columb Minor

St Day

St Dennis

St Dominick

St Enoder

St Erney

St Erth

St Ervan

St Ervan – Bible Christian

St Eval

St Ewe

St Gennys

St Germans

St Giles In the Heath

St Gluvias

St Hilary

St Issey

St Ive

St Ives

St Ives – Primitive Methodist

St Ives – Sion Chapel – Lady Huntingdon

St Ives – Wesleyan

St John

St Juliot

St Just In Penwith

St Just In Roseland

St Keverne

St Kew

St Keyne

St Levan

St Mabyn

St Martin by Looe

St Martin In Meneage

St Mawes – Calvinistic Independent

St Mawes – Wesleyan

St Mellion

St Merryn

St Mewan

St Michael Caerhays

St Michael Penkival

St Minver

St Neot

St Neot – Bible Christian

St Pinnock

St Stephen By Launceston

St Stephen In Brannel

St Stephens By Saltash

St Teath

St Thomas By Launceston

St Tudy

St Veep

St Wenn

St Winnow

Stithians

Stithians – Wesleyan Methodist

Stoke Climsland

Stratton

Talland

Tintagel

Torpoint

Torpoint – Bethel Chapel – Independent

Towednack

Treleigh

Tremaine

Treneglos

Treslothan

Tresmere

Trevalga

Treverbyn

Trewen

Truro – Bethesda Chapel – Independent

Truro – Bible Christian

Truro – Castle St Chapel – Methodist New Connexion

Truro – Kenwyn Street – Calvinistic Baptist

Truro – St George

Truro - St John

Truro – St Mary’s

Truro – St Mary’s – Wesleyan

Truro – St Paul

Tuckingmill

Tywardreath

Uny Lelant

Veryan

Virginstow

Warbstow

Warleggan

Week St Mary

Wendron

Werrington

West Looe – Independent

Whitstone

Withiel

Zennor