York Churches with Family History Links

Over 40 churches have been built in the city but many have now gone. Some are listed briefly below with marriages from the family history database. For more information about ancient and modern churches in York try -


All Saints, North Street Monumental Inscriptions

Mainly 15th century church based on pre-1066 foundations with a 14th century and two 15th century windows; medieval spire.

All Saints, Pavement Monumental Inscriptions

Present church dates from 14th and 15th centuries; octagonal tower.

Bar Convent Monumental Inscriptions

Holy Redeemer, Boroughbridge Road

Recent church built using stones from St Mary, Bishophill Senior

Holy Trinity or Christ Church, King's Square / King's Court Monumental Inscriptions Parish Registers

Church demolished in 1937 but some tombstones remain.

Holy Trinity, Goodramgate Monumental Inscriptions Parish Registers

Built between 1250 and 1500.

Holy Trinity, Micklegate Monumental Inscriptions

Only part remains of a great church linked to a Benedictine Priory from 1089.

St Clements Monumental Inscriptions

St Crux, Shambles / Pavement Monumental Inscriptions

Church demolished in 1881.

St Cuthbert, Peasholme Green Monumental Inscriptions

First church built in 687 incorporating Roman stonework.

St Dennis / Denys, Walmgate Monumental Inscriptions

Norman church with the oldest stained glass windows in the city. Damaged in 1644 by cannon fire then by a wall collapse in 1797 which caused the whole west end to be demolished. In 1846 the original tower was taken down and a smaller one built. Original church was 3 to 4 times bigger than the part that now survives.

St George, George Street Monumental Inscriptions

No details known of church but former churchyard includes grave of Dick Turpin

St Giles, Copmanthorpe Parish Registers

St. Helen, The Square / Stonegate Monumental Inscriptions

Built in 14th century but retored several times; civic church for the city. Burial ground in Davygate created after original cleared to create St Helen's Square.

St. John the Evangelist, Micklegate

Dating from 1194 the church was closed in 1934. Used as an Arts Centre in recent years.

St John, Ousebridge Monumental Inscriptions

St Lawrence (or Laurence), without Walmgate Monumental Inscriptions

Only the tower remains from the original church - a new one was built adjacent in 1881.

St Margaret, Walmgate Monumental Inscriptions

Norman origins but no longer a church and not open to the public.

St. Martin cum Gregory, Micklegate Monumental Inscriptions

13th century church with interesting stained glass

St Martin-le-Grand, Coney Street Monumental Inscriptions Parish Registers

Mainly destroyed by air raid in 1942. Parish register transcriptions published.

St Mary, Bishophill Junior or the Younger Monumental Inscriptions Parish Registers

Tower includes Saxon windows and brickwork; rebuilt in the 13th century and 1860.

St Mary, Bishophill Senior or the Elder Monumental Inscriptions

Church demolished but site now a small park.

St Mary, Castlegate Monumental Inscriptions

St Mary's Abbey

Benedictine monestery founded in 1080 but now ruined.

St Maurice Monumental Inscriptions

St Michael-Le-Belfry, Petergate and Minster Yard Monumental Inscriptions

Tudor church built 1536 and partly rebuilt in 1867.

St Michael, Spurriergate Monumental Inscriptions

Medieval origins but now refurbished as a christian centre.

St Olave, Marygate Monumental Inscriptions

Dating from the 11th century but damaged during the Civil War and rebuilt in the 18th century.

St Sampson, Patrick's Pool / Church Street Monumental Inscriptions

Medieval origins but rebuilt 1845-1848; recently an old people's centre.

St Saviour (or Savior), St. Saviourgate Monumental Inscriptions

Dating from 1090 and rebuilt in the 19th century; recently the Archaelogical Research Centre.

St Thomas

York Minster or St Peter's Cathedral Church

The largest medieval gothic church in England and is based on roman foundations. First small wooden church built in 627, replaced by a stone building in 633 and rebuilt in 670. First part of cathedral built 1080 to 1100, with regular expansion over 250 years. Damaged by fires in 1829, 1840 and 1984. Notable marriages include King Edward III to Phillipa (1328) and two Kings of Scotland to English princesses.

There are also various 19th century churches, a Unitarian Chapel (1692) and Friends Meeting House with burial grounds. The Cholera Burials Grounds  near the railway station date from 1832 - the time of last epidemic in the city.


Monumental Inscriptions - the churches which are marked have the contents of their tombstones recorded on microfiche by the City of York & District Family History Society.

Parish Registers - the churches which are marked have their parish registers, mostly 1813-1837, available on microfiche also from the City of York & District Family History Society.


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