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Berks County, PA church records: which church, and where the records are now
County-specific tips
- Berks was heavily German Lutheran and Reformed, often in shared union churches. Search LACAP and the E&R Library together.
- Catholic: Diocese of Allentown. No online genealogy process found, so start with the parish and then call the chancery at 610-437-0755.
- Ancestry's HSP church and town records collection (1669–2013) is a fast first check.
Denominations to check
Statewide sources
Pennsylvania State Archives – Church Records (MG-262) and WPA Inventory of Church Archives
Access: Church records on microfilm, plus the 1937–40 WPA survey that recorded where each congregation's records were kept at the time.
Cost: Contact the State Archives
Historical Society of Pennsylvania via Ancestry
Access: Church and town records for PA and NJ, 1669–2013, all denominations.
Cost: Ancestry subscription
Source: Ancestry – PA and NJ Church and Town Records, 1669-2013 (HSP), HSP LibGuide – Ancestry
How to find your ancestor's church
- Pin down where they lived: township, town, and approximate years.
- Pick the likely denomination from ethnic background, family tradition, and church names on obituaries or tombstones.
- Use the denomination pages above to find the archive. If the congregation still exists, ask the parish office first.