Before 1900 the major religious groups in Massachusetts were the Congregationalists, Roman Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, and Episcopalians. The Congregational Church was the predominant church until the end of the 18th century. Many church records were published with the town vital records.

Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can contact the following respositories for more information:

Baptist American Baptist Historical Society 1106 S. Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14620 Telephone: 716–474–1740 Congregational The Congregational Library 14 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108 Telephone: 617–523–0470 Fax: 617–523–0491 Episcopal The Diocesan Library and Archives The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts 138 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02108 Telephone: 617–482–4826, ext. 504 Fax: 617–482–8431 Society of Friends (Quakers) The Quaker Research Guide The Quaker Corner Rhode Island Historical Society 121 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 Telephone: 401–331–8575 Fax: 401–751–7930 Jewish American Jewish Historical Society 2 Thornton Road Waltham, MA 02154 Telephone: 617–891–8110 Fax: 617–899–9208

Lutheran New England Lutheran Archives Trinity Lutheran Church 292 Orange Street New Haven, CT 06510 Telephone: 203–787–6521 Methodist School of Theology Library 745 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02215 Telephone: 617–353–3034 Fax: 617–353–3061 Presbyterian Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 Telephone: 215–627–1852 Fax: 215–627–0509 Roman Catholic Archives, Archdiocese of Boston 2121 Commonwealth Avenue Brighton, MA 02135 Telephone: 617–254–0100, ext. 108 Fax: 617–783–5642 Unitarian/Universalist Harvard Divinity School Library 45 Francis Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Telephone: 617–495–5770 Fax: 617–495–9489

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