Who were the nonconformists?
Elizabeth I attempted to end decades of turmoil by making the Church of England the established church in 1558. ‘Nonconformist’ refers to a Protestant who did not conform to its regulations, sacraments or customs.
Examples of popular non-Anglican Protestant denominations include Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Quakers. Baptists emerged in the early 1600s, as a reaction to Church of England practices that were formalised during the Reformation, while John and Charles Wesley laid the foundations of the Methodist Society in 1729 when they set up the Holy Club prayer meetings at Christ Church, Oxford.
If your ancestor was a nonconformist, you may get two bites of the cherry because many nonconformists would be recorded within Church of England baptism and marriage registers as well as in records created by their own denomination. Collections of nonconformist birth, marriage and death registers are already available online, but we have also chosen some lesser-known resources.
Nonconformist family history: The best websites
1. BMD Registers
This site has millions of nonconformist records from The National Archives, which were deposited with the registrar general in 1841 (another collection was made in 1857). Nonconformists (aside from Quakers) had to marry in Anglican churches from 1754, and many congregations did not have their own burial grounds, so most of the registers here record baptisms or births. There is also a large collection of Quaker marriages and more. Viewing a full record or page image costs five credits (10 credits cost £5), or you can instead access the site via a subscription to TheGenealogist. The records are also now available on Ancestry, Findmypast and MyHeritage.
2. A Dictionary of Methodism
The dictionary contains information relating to the nonconformist denomination of Methodism in Britain and Ireland, covering people – including preachers and ministers – as well as places of worship, practices, communities, schools and colleges. This is an online version of a book originally published by Epworth Press in 2000, which has been hugely expanded since launching online over a decade ago. The number of entries has more than doubled, and the editors have attempted to increase sections covering the work of lay Methodists, women and members of branches of Methodism other than the Wesleyans. You’ll also find that many entries include portraits and illustrations.
3. Quakers in Britain
The Library of the Religious Society of Friends in Central London holds a host of archives about the nonconformist Quaker community, as well as records of meetings in London and Middlesex; records of meetings held elsewhere will normally be in local archives and libraries. It also has some 200 periodicals; about 80,000 books and pamphlets, including a collection of 17th century Quaker and anti-Quaker material; and archives relating to prominent Quakers and Quaker organisations. Because of their beliefs many Quakers became conscientious objectors during the Second World War, and the library also holds the archives of the Central Board for Conscientious Objectors.
4. Baptist History
The Baptist Historical Society’s site includes all kinds of information about the early history of this nonconformist denomination; the central pillars of its beliefs and customs; and links, videos and publications. Although actual data is thin on the ground, you will find advice about tracing Baptists here. Because of the custom of baptism through total immersion in water, and only when old enough to fully commit and understand the practice, baptisms are not to be found in parish registers, but will often feature in local churches’ minutes. The society also has an index of obituaries listing many Baptist ministers since 1790, which you can download as a Microsoft Access database file.
5. Unitarian Historical Society
If your ancestors were Unitarians or English Presbyterians, this is a great place to start. The website includes a list of known congregations (including some for Presbyterians and Baptists) and an index of obituaries of ministers that includes dates of birth and death as well as where they served. The site also offers a useful bibliography for researchers.
Nonconformist family history: More websites
6. Baptist Union of Wales
This site includes a history of the union, which was founded at Llanwenarth on 21 August 1886.
7. Methodist Heritage
This is a great source of advice for researching Methodists. There’s also My Methodist History, as well as allied websites focusing on Primitive Methodists and Wesleyan Methodists.
8. Quaker Collections
Find out more about the key Quaker collections held at the library of the University of Leeds.
9. Strict Baptist Historical Society
Find out more about the group’s library, events, meetings and publications.
10. The National Archives
Learn how to find nonconformist material at TNA, and archives and libraries across the UK.
11. Wesley Historical Society
The society’s site is a useful stomping ground, with an introduction to Methodist genealogy as well as links to regional societies and archives.
