Family History

In general the Diocesan Archives do not hold the parochial registers of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials. In the main these are retained by the parishes and access to such records is by arrangement with the Parish Priest concerned.

In recent years the Diocesan Archives have co-operated with the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) to facilitate the microfilming of the records from most of the parishes in the county that were established by 1900.

Where microfilming has taken place copies of the microfiche are held by the Diocesan Archives and also by West Yorkshire Archive Service. Further information about WYAS can be found at: www.archives.wyjs.org.uk

The microfiche records may be consulted at the Diocesan Archives and at WYAS. Researchers wishing to access records after 1909 will need to obtain permission from the Leeds Diocesan Archives.

North Yorkshire County Record Office (NYCRO) has also undertaken the microfilming of Catholic parish records from St Robert’s, Harrogate, St Joseph’s, Bishop Thornton and the former chapels at Allerton Park and Rudding Park. These records may be consulted at the North Yorkshire County Record Office in Northallerton. For further details see: www.northyorks.gov.uk/archives

A useful guide to historic Catholic parish records in Yorkshire can be found in Catholic Missions and Registers 1700-1880: Volume 4 – North East England, compiled and published by Michael Gandy and the Catholic Family History Society in 1993.

Please note the Archivist is unable to carry out detailed record searches on behalf of family historians.