Researching Non-Conformist Ancestors

A brief history of Religion in England

Before Henry VIII’s break with the papacy in the 1530s, the Roman Catholic Church was all powerful in England. Only a small, persecuted minority questioned its doctrines.

When Henry VIII declared himself Supreme Head of the Church in England in 1533, following the Pope’s refusal to sanction his divorce from Katherine of Aragon, his decision initiated the Reformation of English religion.  The Act of Supremacy in 1534 made the monarch in England the head of the English Church.

1554 saw Mary I revive the Heresy Acts, restoring the death penalty for those who denied the principles of Catholicism.

In 1558 Elizabeth I instituted the Act of Uniformity which finally made the Church of England (Anglican) the established church and abolished Papal authority in England.  Throughout most of the 1600s, Sunday attendance in the established Anglican church was mandatory for all and those not attending could be fined and punished.

The Act of Toleration introduced a degree of religious freedom in 1688, allowing non-conformists to have their own chapels.  Restrictive laws still remained, however, and many still kept their association with non-conformist movements a secret.  Often access to poor relief was administered by the Church Parish, and those receiving such relief were expected to attend Anglican services regularly, so keeping non-Conformist views private was vital for those who might need to resort to such relief.

From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, the term "nonconformist" was applied to English and Welsh Christians who belonged to a denomination other than the Church of England. Sometimes nonconformist was restricted to Protestant religions other than the Church of England; occasionally the term was intended to include Roman Catholics and Quakers, and rarely the term included other non-Christian faiths.

The better-known Nonconformist groups were Independents (Congregationalists), Baptists, Presbyterians (including Scots Congregations), Methodists, Society of Friends (Quakers), Brethren Church, French Huguenots (Walloons), and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

Baptists, Presbyterians, Independents, and French Huguenots all had their beginnings in the 16th century. The others were established in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Non-Conformist Records

Few Nonconformist registers exist before 1700 because of persecution. By the late 1700s or early 1800s, many denominations had started keeping registers.

Some were better at keeping records than others. The denominations usually did not have a formal hierarchy, so the records were kept on a local level. However, most denominations did eventually form central registries.

The Presbyterians, Baptists, and Independents (Congregationalists) established central birth registration in 1743; and the Methodists did so in 1773.

Birth and baptism registers are by far the most numerous of records amongst the non-conformist collections.  Many chose to escape possible discrimination by being baptized in both their non-conformist faith and in their local Anglican church and so may appear in both records.

There were few marriage registers amongst these collections since between 1753 and 1836 only Church of England marriages had been legal. Hardwicke's Marriage Act of 1753 required marriage in an Anglican church in order for the union to be legally recognized, however it is notable that Jews and Quakers were exempt from this law. 

It wasn't until 1836 that the Marriage Act allowed a couple to be legally married in a non-Anglican parish church.  Again, some people would have been married in their own chapel and in their local Anglican church.

Burial records among non-conformist groups can be rare.  Although there are a number of burial registers, before the 1850s nonconformists were usually buried in Anglican parish churchyards until the chapel they belonged to was big enough to obtain its own burial grounds or until civil cemeteries opened. 

A Researching Challenge

Researching your non-conformist ancestors can be a challenge, but there are records available and many resources for finding out more about their beliefs and how they chose to practice their faith.  Good luck in your searching!