Public Record Office | Leaflets | Family History in England and Wales

a very handy overview

Google Search: site:www.sog.org.uk " Bishops' transcripts"

Google Search: site:www.genuki.org.uk " Bishops' transcripts"

EmeryPaper (Version 4)

These are copies of the parish registers completed on an annual basis by the clergy and forwarded to the local bishop.

The practice commenced in 1598 but those transcripts that still exist must be checked where possible with the original registers as not all copies are accurate.

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After 1837, when civil registration started, many clergy ceased to send copies, although some did continue for quite some time.

Bishops' Transcripts (BTs) are useful in that they provide a second record and may have survived when the parish register has not. Details of baptisms, marriages and burials were also sometimes recorded on loose sheets prior to copying into the registers, and it is possible that some BTs may include entries not listed in the parish registers

Bishops' Transcripts

usually at the county record office.
EG
useful for WWII bombed out Bristol churches when the registers burned, but were badly stored and damaged as well.

Google Search: " Bishops' transcripts" 1598