Early church and district codes

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Search early church codes

The early church records cover the years 1787 to 1855 and are a collection of baptism, marriage and burial records held by churches in colonial New South Wales.

Find the relevant church denomination as well as parish, circuit or district using the two letter code on your documentation.

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
AA	Baptist	Sydney, St Andrews, Bathurst Street
AB	Baptist	Field of Mars
AC	Baptist	Sydney, St James
AD	Baptist	Co. Cumberland ('abodes' mostly Pennant Hills and Parramatta)
AE	Baptist	Sydney, Macquarie Street
AF	Baptist	Sydney, St Lawrence's
AG	Baptist	Sydney (parish not stated)
AH	Baptist	Parramatta
AI	Baptist	Melbourne (VIC)
AJ	Baptist	Sydney, St Phillip's

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
CA	Church of England	Sydney, St Phillip's
CB	Church of England	Parramatta, St John's
CC	Church of England	Windsor, St Matthew's
CD	Church of England	Castlereagh
CE	Church of England	Richmond
CF	Church of England	Liverpool, St Luke's
CG	Church of England	Norfolk Island
CH	Church of England	Hexham, Newcastle, Christ Church
CI	Church of England	Campbelltown, St Peter's (Co. Aird)
CJ	Church of England	Sydney, St James'
CK	Church of England	Port Macquarie, St Thomas (Co. Ayr)
CL	Church of England	Kelso
CM	Church of England	Wilberforce
CN	Church of England	Sackville Reach
CO	Church of England	Moreton Bay (QLD)
CP	Church of England	Sydney (parish not stated)
CQ	Church of England	field of Mars, Marsfield, Ryde
CR	Church of England	Cobbitty, Narellan
CS	Church of England	Pitt Town
CT	Church of England	Black Creek; Bulwarra; Cloden; East Maitland; Hinton; Hunter District; Maitland; Morpeth; West Maitland
CU	Church of England	Brisbane, St John's (QLD)
CV	Church of England	Berrima; Bong Bong; Sutton Forest; All Saints (Co. Camden)
CW	Church of England	Abercrombie District, Bathurst
CX	Church of England	Castle Hill; Dooral/Dural
CY	Church of England	Lower Hawkesbury
CZ	Church of England	Illawarra; Jervis Bay

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
EA	Hebrew	Sydney
EB	Hebrew	Port Macquarie
EC	Hebrew	Maitland; West Maitland
ED	Hebrew	Illawarra
EE	Hebrew	Windsor
EF	Hebrew	Bathurst
EG	Hebrew	Parramatta
EH	Hebrew	Shoalhaven
EI	Hebrew	Singleton
EJ	Hebrew	Bungonia; Goulburn
EK	Hebrew	Melbourne (VIC)
EL	Hebrew	Moreton Bay (QLD)
EM	Hebrew	Paterson; Scone
EN	Hebrew	Yass
EO	Hebrew	Tamworth
EP	Hebrew	Queanbeyan
EQ	Hebrew	Western NSW
ER	Hebrew	Richmond River District
ES	Hebrew	Albury
ET	Hebrew	Tumut
EU	Hebrew	Manning River District

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
GA	Independent (Congregational)	Ebenezer; Lake Macquarie
GB	Independent (Congregational)	Sydney, Pitt Street
GC	Independent (Congregational)	Melbourne, Collins Street (VIC)
GD	Independent (Congregational)	Parramatta
GE	Independent (Congregational)	Alexandria, South Head
GF	Independent (Congregational)	Sydney, St Phillip's Mariners' Church
GG	Independent (Congregational)	Petersham
GH	Independent (Congregational)	Maitland, West Maitland
GI	Independent (Congregational)	Sydney, St Lawrence's
GJ	Independent (Congregational)	Brisbane (QLD)
GK	Independent (Congregational)	Ipswich (QLD)
GL	Independent (Congregational)	Newcastle
GM	Independent (Congregational)	Saluafala, Island of Upolu, Samoa
GN	Independent (Congregational)	Sydney, St James'
GO	Independent (Congregational)	Wollongong

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
IA	Wesleyan Methodist	Sydney
IB	Wesleyan Methodist	Field of Mars, Parramatta
IC	Wesleyan Methodist	Lower Hawkesbury
ID	Wesleyan Methodist	Macdonald River
IE	Wesleyan Methodist	Sackville Beach
IF	Wesleyan Methodist	Portland Head
IG	Wesleyan Methodist	Bathurst, Hill End
IH	Wesleyan Methodist	Windsor
II	Wesleyan Methodist	Mudgee
IJ	Wesleyan Methodist	Wollongong
IK	Wesleyan Methodist	Maitland; West Maitland
IL	Wesleyan Methodist	Melbourne (VIC)
IM	Wesleyan Methodist	Geelong (VIC)
IN	Wesleyan Methodist	Camden
IO	Wesleyan Methodist	Kempsey; Port Macquarie
IP	Wesleyan Methodist	Hunter River District; Newcastle
IQ	Wesleyan Methodist	Co. Argyle; Goulburn; Gunning; Yass
IR	Wesleyan Methodist	Alexandria
IS	Wesleyan Methodist	Brisbane; Co. Stanley; Ipswich; Moreton Bay (QLD)
IT	Wesleyan Methodist	Queanbeyan
IU	Wesleyan Methodist	Surry Hills
IV	Wesleyan Methodist	Newtown
IW	Wesleyan Methodist	Armidale, New England District
IX	Wesleyan Methodist	Bowenfels
IY	Wesleyan Methodist	Bega; Moruya
IZ	Wesleyan Methodist	Albury

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
JA	Presbyterian	Sydney, Scots Church
JB	Presbyterian	Sydney, St Andrew's Scots Church
JC	Presbyterian	Wollongong
JD	Presbyterian	Wiseman's Ferry
JE	Presbyterian	Balmain
JF	Presbyterian	Newcastle
JG	Presbyterian	Alexandria; Paddington
JH	Presbyterian	Murrurundi; Scone
JI	Presbyterian	Bathurst
JJ	Presbyterian	Jervis Bay, Shoalhaven (Co. St Vincent)
JK	Presbyterian	Sydney, St Stephen's (Macquarie Street)
JL	Presbyterian	Hawkesbury District
JM	Presbyterian	Pitt Town; Wilberforce
JN	Presbyterian	Parramatta
JO	Presbyterian	Windsor, St Matthew's
JP	Presbyterian	Sydney, St Lawrence's
JQ	Presbyterian	Sydney, St James'
JR	Presbyterian	Butterwick; Hinton; Middlehope; Seaham
JS	Presbyterian	Portland Head
JT	Presbyterian	Port Macquarie, St Andrew's
JU	Presbyterian	Cos. Of St Vincent, Murray and Auckland (Itinerant)
JV	Presbyterian	Richmond
JW	Presbyterian	Houghton
JX	Presbyterian	Yass
JY	Presbyterian	Bungonia; Goulburn
JZ	Presbyterian	Co. Cook

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
KA	Primitive Methodist	Sydney
KB	Primitive Methodist	Maitland
KC	Primitive Methodist	Houghton
KD	Primitive Methodist	Newcastle
KE	Primitive Methodist	Camden; Liverpool; Penrith; Narellan; Picton

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
LA	Roman Catholic	Sydney, St James'
LB	Roman Catholic	Adelaide (SA)
LC	Roman Catholic	Windsor, St Matthew's
LD	Roman Catholic	Sydney, St Mary's
LE	Roman Catholic	Campbelltown, St John's
LF	Roman Catholic	Yass
LG	Roman Catholic	Bathurst; Kelso; St Michael's, Co. Bathurst
LH	Roman Catholic	Parramatta, St Patrick's
LI	Roman Catholic	Liverpool
LJ	Roman Catholic	Mulgoa; Penrith
LK	Roman Catholic	East Maitland; Maitland; West Maitland
LL	Roman Catholic	Newcastle; Raymond Terrace
LM	Roman Catholic	Macdonald River, St Joseph's (Co. Hunter)
LN	Roman Catholic	Brisbane Water; East Gosford; Gosford; Kincumber
LO	Roman Catholic	Goulburn
LP	Roman Catholic	Berrima; Sutton Forest
LQ	Roman Catholic	Illawarra; Wollongong
LR	Roman Catholic	Melbourne, St Francis (VIC)
LS	Roman Catholic	Geelong (VIC)
LT	Roman Catholic	Hartley
LU	Roman Catholic	Moreton Bay (QLD); New England District
LV	Roman Catholic	Brisbane (QLD)
LW	Roman Catholic	Cooma; Monaro; Manaroo District; Queanbeyan; Twofold Bay
LX	Roman Catholic	Co. Cook
LY	Roman Catholic	Appin, St Bede's
LZ	Roman Catholic	Port Macquarie (Co. Macquarie)

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
MA	Church of England	Australian Agricultural Company; Dungog; Eldon; Stroud; Uffington
MB	Church of England	Port Stephens
MC	Church of England	Bungonia; Goulburn; St Saviour's (Co. Argyle); Goulburn Plains; Lake Bathurst; Marulan
MD	Church of England	Dapto; Wollongong
ME	Church of England	Melbourne, St James' (VIC)
MF	Church of England	Sydney, St Lawrence's
MG	Church of England	Mulgoa, St Thomas
MH	Church of England Cabramatta	Denham Court, St Mary's
MI	Church of England	Gundaroo; Gunning; Yass
MJ	Church of England	Canbury (Almost certainly Canberra); Lake George; Queanbeyan
MK	Church of England	Brisbane Water
ML	Church of England	Alnwick; Butterwick; Clarence Town; Middlehope; Raymond Terrace; Seaham
MM	Church of England	Montefiores, Wellington District
MN	Church of England	Cook's River; Petersham
MO	Church of England	Inverary
MP	Church of England	Lower Portland Head
MQ	Church of England	Bringelly
MR	Church of England	Oakville; Whittingham; Wollombi
MS	Church of England	Sydney, Holy Trinity (Garrison Church)
MT	Church of England	Mangrove Creek, Upper Mangrove
MU	Church of England	Hunters Hill
MV	Church of England	Macdonald and Colo River
MW	Church of England	Penrith
MX	Church of England	Appin
MY	Church of England	Camden; St John's; Oaks; Picton; Stonequarry
MZ	Church of England	Merriwa; Muswellbrook; Paterson

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
NA	Church of England	Scone
NB	Church of England	Monaro/Maneroo/Manaro
NC	Church of England	Cydesdale, South Creek, St Mary Magdalene's
ND	Church of England	Prospect, St Bartholomew's
NE	Church of England	Aruleun, Braidwood
NF	Church of England	Ashfield; Balmain; Burwood; Concord
NG	Church of England	Belfast, Port Fairy, Portland (VIC)
NH	Church of England	Binalong
NI	Church of England	Clarence River District
NJ	Church of England	Gulgong, Mudgee
NK	Church of England	Albany, King George's Sound (WA)
NL	Church of England	Sydney, St Andrew's
NM	Church of England	Houghton
NN	Church of England	Althorpe; Brougham; Invermain; Rowan
NO	Church of England	Geelong (VIC)
NP	Church of England	Gosford; Kincumber
NQ	Church of England	Camberwell; Falbrook; Jerry's Plains; Warkworth; Wombo
NR	Church of England	Carcoar
NS	Church of England	Armidale, St Peter's
NT	Church of England	Alexandria; Paddington
NU	Church of England	Willoughby
NV	Church of England	Camperdown; Newtown
NW	Church of England	Jamberoo; Kiama; Shoalhaven
NY	Church of England	Gordon
NZ	Church of England	Canberra

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
OA	Church of England	O'Connell Plains
OB	Church of England	Ipswich (QLD)
OC	Church of England	Liverpool Plains; Tamworth
OD	Church of England	Warialda
OE	Church of England	Gundagai
OF	Church of England	Albury
OG	Church of England	Wagga Wagga
OH	Church of England	Greendale
OI	Church of England	Enfield
OJ	Church of England	Darling Downs; Drayton (QLD)
OK	Church of England	Cooma
OL	Church of England	Tumut
OM	Church of England	Sofala
ON	Church of England	Murrumbidgee District
OO	Church of England	Pennant Hills
OP	Church of England	Meroo; Tambaroora (Cos. Wellington and Roxburgh)
OQ	Church of England	Pyrmont; St Bartholomew's
OR	Church of England	Cassilis District (Co. Bligh), Merton
OS	Church of England	Warwick (QLD)
OT	Church of England	Burnett River, Wilde Bay (QLD)
OU	Church of England	Redfern, St Paul's
OV	Church of England	Darlinghurst, St John's
OW	Church of England	Mount Vincent (Co. Northumberland)
OX	Church of England	Dubbo
OY	Church of England	Orange
OZ	Church of England	Darling/Murray Junction (Wentworth)

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
PA	Presbyterian	Campbelltown, St Peter's
PB	Presbyterian	Upper Hunter
PC	Presbyterian	Derbie; Hunter District; Maitland; Morpeth; Paterson; Singleton
PD	Presbyterian	Kangaroo Point; Moreton Bay; Tambool (QLD)
PE	Presbyterian	Armidale, New England
PF	Presbyterian	Campbellfield, Melbourne (VIC)
PG	Presbyterian	Illawarra District, Kiama
PH	Presbyterian	Murrumbidgee and Murray District
PI	Presbyterian	South Counties (itinerant), Liverpool Plains,
PJ	Bowenfels	Vale of Clwydd (Rev Colin Stewart - Itinerant)
PK	Presbyterian	Geelong (VIC)
PL	Presbyterian	Gordon
PM	Presbyterian	Portland (VIC)
PN	Presbyterian	Whittingham
PO	Presbyterian	Broulee
PP	Presbyterian	Upper Hume River District
PQ	Presbyterian	Will-Will-Rook (VIC)
PR	Presbyterian	Brisbane (QLD)
PS	Presbyterian	Field of Mars
PT	Presbyterian	Sydney, St Phillip's
PU	Presbyterian	Carcoar, Lachlan District
PV	Presbyterian	Tumut
PW	Presbyterian	Sutton Forest
PX	Presbyterian	Wagga Wagga
PY	Presbyterian	Sydney, German Reformed Church
PZ	Presbyterian	Manning River District

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
QA	Presbyterian	Clarence Town, Dungog, Stroud
QB	Presbyterian	Cos. Of Durham and Gloucester
QC	Presbyterian	Sydney, Scots Church (Pitt Street)
QD	Presbyterian	Gayndah (QLD)
QE	Presbyterian	Warwick (QLD)
QF	Presbyterian	Sydney (parish not stated), Woolloomooloo
QG	Presbyterian	Ipswich (QLD)
QH	Presbyterian	Meroo, Tambaroora, Western Gold Fields (Co. Wellington)
QI	Presbyterian	Braidwood, Bungendore
QJ	Presbyterian	Bligh District
QK	Presbyterian	Mudgee
QL	Presbyterian	Terrys Meadows
QM	Presbyterian	Albury
QN	Presbyterian	Berrima

R to S

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
RA	Australian Methodist	Sydney, Pitt Street
SA	[Society of] Friends	Hobart (TAS)
SB	[Society of] Friends	Sydney

T to U

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
TA	Israelite	Pitt Town
TB	Israelite	Sydney
TC	Israelite	Wollombi
TD	Israelite	Liverpool
TE	Israelite	Penrith
TF	Israelite	New South Wales
TG	Israelite	Maitland
TH	Israelite	Mundamah
TI	Israelite	Dural
UA	United Evangelical	North Brisbane (QLD)

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
VA	Roman Catholic	Moreton Bay (QLD)
VB	Roman Catholic	Burragorang, St Paulinus'
VC	Roman Catholic	Singleton (inc. New England), St Augustine's, Co.Northumberland
VD	Roman Catholic	Port Macquarie and New England
VE	Roman Catholic	Carcoar; Cowra; Erroll; Orange
VF	Roman Catholic	Clarence River District, Co. Clarence
VG	Roman Catholic	Patrick's Plains
VH	Roman Catholic	Ipswich (QLD)
VI	Roman Catholic	Whittingham
VJ	Roman Catholic	Sofala
VK	Roman Catholic	Far South Coast, Co. Dampier
VL	Roman Catholic	Araluen; Braidwood
VM	Roman Catholic	Eldon
VN	Roman Catholic	Broulee, Moruya
VO	Roman Catholic	Kiama
VP	Roman Catholic	Armidale
VQ	Roman Catholic	Petersham, St Thomas'
VR	Roman Catholic	Wellington
VS	Roman Catholic	Balmain
VT	Roman Catholic	Albury (Co. Goulburn)
VU	Roman Catholic	Norfolk Island
VV	Roman Catholic	Sydney (Parish not stated)
VW	Roman Catholic	Picton
VX	Roman Catholic	Hawkesbury, Lower Hawkesbury
VY	Roman Catholic	Sydney, St Patrick's
VZ	Roman Catholic	Liverpool Plains

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
XA	Wesleyan Methodist	Carcoar
XB	Wesleyan Methodist	Blayney
XC	Wesleyan Methodist	Ballina
XD	Wesleyan Methodist	Balmain
XE	Wesleyan Methodist	Liverpool Plains, inc. Gunnedah
XF	Wesleyan Methodist	Glenorchy; Hobart; Port Arthur (TAS)
XG	Wesleyan Methodist	New Zealand
XH	Wesleyan Methodist	Macquarie Habour (TAS)
XI	Wesleyan Methodist	Annandale; Ashfield; Burwood; Glebe
XJ	Wesleyan Methodist	Hay, Moulamein District (Gospel Car Mission)
XK	Wesleyan Methodist	Grafton
XL	Wesleyan Methodist	Nymagee
XM	Wesleyan Methodist	Ingalaboo (Tonga)
XN	Wesleyan Methodist	Auburn
XO	Wesleyan Methodist	Bombala Circuit
XP	Wesleyan Methodist	Branxton
XQ	Wesleyan Methodist	Brunswick
XR	Wesleyan Methodist	Chippendale
XS	Wesleyan Methodist	Cobargo; Tilba
XT	Wesleyan Methodist	Cooma
XU	Wesleyan Methodist	Glen Innes Circuit
XV	Wesleyan Methodist	Leichhardt; Stanmore Circuit
XW	Wesleyan Methodist	Macleay River
XX	Wesleyan Methodist	Manning River Circuit
XY	Wesleyan Methodist	Molong Circuit
XZ	Wesleyan Methodist	Morpeth

Code	Denomination	Parish/Circuit/District
YA	Church of England	Canterbury
YB	Church of England	Bega; Bombala; Eden
YC	Wesleyan Methodist	Rockely River
YD	Wesleyan Methodist	Tamworth Circuit
YE	Wesleyan Methodist	Wagga Wagga
YF	Wesleyan Methodist	Orange
YG	Wesleyan Methodist	Randwick

History of early church codes

In 1856 the registry acquired the Supreme Court's copies of the 1834 to 1835 baptism, marriage and burial registers from ministers of denominations other than Church of England.

In 1879 the Clergy Returns Transfer Act was passed, requiring that the the Church of England Bishop in Sydney hand over copies of the 1825 to 1855 baptism, marriage and burial registers to the Registry.

Mr Kerrison James who held the records was paid 4000 pounds compensation for the loss of the records. When opened, the crates containing the registers were found to also contain earlier registers going back to 1787.

In 1912 the Registrar General wrote to all church authorities asking for access to their pre-1856 registers so that registry and church records could be reconciled. The registrar also asked for access to the 1856 to 1895 church marriages registers.

The registry's early church records were consolidated into 158 volumes of approximately 50,000 entries, with each given a unique number or early church code.

Some early marriage records recorded only the details of the two people marrying with no details of the parents even though they appeared in the Church registers. These registrations were amended with a note explaining the change.

The registry's records from the early days of NSW are not complete and the reconciliation of records and amendments to marriage registrations was never finalised. Records still held by the churches can sometimes fill in the missing details on a marriage certificate or provide baptism records where there is no civil registration for the birth.

Search district codes

Prior to the centralisation of NSW registrations to the Sydney office in 1995, NSW was divided into registration districts with their own local Registrars (formerly known as District Registrars).

Find the relevant district by using the code listed on your documentation.

L001 - L040

District	Local registrar No.	District	Local registrar No.
Sydney	L001	Cootamundra	L021
Kogarah	L002	Corowa	L022
Parramatta	L003	Culcairn	L023
Bankstown	L004	Deniliquin	L024
Burwood	L005	Grenfell	L025
Blacktown	L006	Griffith	L026
Camden	L007	Gundagai	L027
Campbelltown	L008	Gunning	L028
Hornsby	L009	Hay	L029
Liverpool	L010	Henty	L030
Lord Howe Island	L011	Hillston	L031
Penrith	L012	Holbrook	L032
Windsor	L013	Jerilderie	L033
Campsie	L014	Junee	L034
-	L015	Lake Cargelligo	L035
Albury	L016	Leeton	L036
Ardlethan	L017	Lockhart	L037
Balranald	L018	Murrumburrah	L038
Boorowa	L019	Narrandera	L039
Coolamon	L020	Temora	L040

L041 - L081

District	Local Registrar No.	District	Local registrar No.
Tocumwal	L041	Blayney	L061
Tumbarumba	L042	Bourke	L062
Tumut	L043	Brewarrina	L063
Urana	L044	Broken Hill	L064
Wagga Wagga	L045	Canowindra	L065
West Wyalong	L046	Cobar	L066
Yass	L047	Coolah	L068
Young	L048	Coonabarabran	L069
Finaly	L049	Coonamble	L070
-	L050	Cowra	L071
Fairfield	L051	Dubbo	L072
Lidcombe	L052	Dunedoo	L073
Ryde	L053	Forbes	L074
Sutherland	L054	Gilgandra	L075
-	L055	Gulgong	L076
-	L056	Katoomba	L077
-	L057	Lithgow	L078
-	L058	Menindee	L079
-	L059	Molong	L080
Bathurst	L060	Mudgee	L081

L082 - L121

District	Local Registrar No.	District	Local Registrar No.
Narromine	L082	Armidale	L102
Nyngan	L083	Ballina	L103
Oberon	L084	Barraba	L104
Orange	L085	Bellingen	L105
Parkes	L086	Bingara	L106
Peak Hill	L087	Bundurra	L107
Portland	L088	Byron Bay	L108
Rylstone	L089	Casino	L109
Tibooburra	L090	Cessnock	L110
Warren	L091	Coffs Harbour	L111
Wellington	L092	Collarenebri	L112
Wentworth	L093	Dungog	L113
Wilcannia	L094	East Maitland	L114
-	L095	Emmaville	L115
-	L096	Glen Innes	L116
-	L097	Gloucester	L117
-	L098	Goodooga	L118
-	L099	Gosford	L119
-	L100	Grafton	L120
Newcastle	L101	Gunnedah	L121

L122 - L155

District	Local Registrar No.	District	Local registrar No.
Guyra	L122	Singleton	L142
Inverell	L123	Tamworth	L143
Kempsey	L124	Taree	L144
Kurri Kurri	L125	Tenterfield	L145
Kyogle	L126	Tingha	L146
Lismore	L127	Tweed Heads	L147
Macksville	L128	Uralla	L148
Maclean	L129	Walcha	L149
Maitland	L130	Walgett	L150
Manilla	L131	Warialda	L151
Merriwa	L132	Wauchope	L152
Moree	L133	Wee Waa	L153
Murrurundi	L134	Wingham	L154
Murwillumbah	L135	Wyong	L155
Muswellbrook	L136
Narrabri	L137
Port Macquarie	L138
Quirindi	L139
Raymond Terrace	L140
Scone	L141

Codes L156 - L200 are not used for any district.

L201 - L216

District	Local Registrar No.
Wollongong	L201
Bega	L202
Bombala	L203
Bowral	L204
Braidwood	L205
Cooma	L206
Crookwill	L207
Delegate	L208
Eden	L209
Goulburn	L210
Kiama	L211
Moruya	L212
Moss Vale	L213
Nowra	L214
Picton	L215
Queanbeyan	L216