York County, Pennsylvania Church Records, 1760-1800: Codorus Township

Lischy's (St. Peter's) Reformed Church:

Located in North Codorus Township in York County, Pennsylvania, Lischy's Reformed Church, also called St. Peter's, was organized in the late 1740s. Its records cover the years 1773-97. See Family History Library microfilm #20495 for original data.

St. Jacob's (Stone) Union Church:

Located in Codorus Township in York County, Pennsylvania, St. Jacobs Union Church, also called Jacob's Church and The Stone Church, was organized in 1756. Both Lutheran and Reformed congregations met in the building. The registers date from 1762. See Family History Library microfilm #20346 for original data.

St. Paul's (Ziegler's) Evangelical Lutheran Church:

Located in North Codorus Township in York County, Pennsylvania, St. Paul's (Ziegler's) Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1771. The records in this database span the years 1771-1800 and include the names of more than 1,400 individuals. See Family History Library microfilm #20499 for original data.

Steltz Union Church:

Located in Codorus Township in York County, Pennsylvania, Steltz Union Church has record in this database for the years 1797-1800. The manuscript is from the Historical Society of York County, Pennsylvania.

Church records rank among the very best genealogical records available worldwide, but they are one of the most under-used sources in American genealogy. Until the advent of vital statistics in the United States—a very late development in most states—church records were the primary source of birth, marriage, and death information. The sheer number of denominations and affiliate churches has made identifying and locating each one's records a time-consuming ordeal for most genealogists. Church records also vary a great deal in content and emphasis according to the basic theology of the religious group that created them.

Early immigrants from England, Scotland, and other European countries brought their religious beliefs, institutions, and customs with them, including the keeping of church books in which to record births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, communion lists, deaths, and burials. Lutheran and Reformed Church records in Pennsylvania rank among the very best church records available.