The Parish Church existed as early as the Norman Conquest, as we learn from the Domesday Survey. In this it is stated "King Edward held Blackeburne. There [are] 2 hides and 2 carucates of land. The Church had two bovates of this land ..." The PRs/BTs commence in 1568 for baptisms and marriages and burials start in 1600. The Lancashire Parish Register Society have published two volumes - Vol 41 1600- 1660 (but includes baptisms from 1568) and Vol 93 1653 - 1680.
My database cover:
baptisms 1722-1759
marriages 1722-1802 (ongoing)
burials 1722-1759
This church was built by subscription in 1788 and consecrated 31st July 1789. The parish of St John's was formed in 1847.
The baptism & burial registers commence in 1789 and the marriage register in 1858.
This Church was built by subscription in 1791, but the Vicar of Blackburn refused to certify it for consecration. Therefore, the trustees of the Church placed it under the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. On 20th December 1829 the Church was consecrated by the Vicar of Blackburn.
The baptism & burial registers commences in 1792 and the marriage register in 1854..
This church was built in 1819-21 and consecrated on 11th September 1821.
The baptism & burial registers commences in 1821 and the marriage register in 1854.
This chapel was constituted in 1778 and consisted of the Blackburn portion of the Tockholes congregation and about 20 Blackburn families who attended Lower Chapel, Darwen. In addition, the chapel attracted 2 or 3 families who attended the private chapel in Hoghton Tower.
My database cover:
baptisms 1777 - 1837
burials not yet entered
John Wesley visited Blackburn in 1780, 1781 and again in 1784. The original chapel was built in Chapel Street about 1780 and by 1785 a larger building was required. This larger chapel was opened in 1786 in Clayton Street and John Wesley visited this building on 17th April 1786. He was there again in 1788 and possibly in 1790. The chapel was enlarged and almost rebuilt in 1816.
My database cover:
baptisms 1784 - 1837
burials not yet entered
The Primitive Methodist had a meeting room in the Eanam district of Blackburn and a society was formed about 1820. About 16 years later a chapel, in Montague Street, was built and opened in 1837.
My database cover:
baptisms 1825 - 1837
burials not yet entered
A church society of local Baptist was formed in 1760 and a meeting house was opened on 29th May 1765. It was the first structure erected especially for nonconformist worship in Blackburn.
My database cover:
baptisms 1772 - 1837
burials not yet entered
Some members of Chapel Street congregation built a Sunday School at Bethorn in 1816. This was followed by the formation of a chapel in 1818.
My database cover:
baptisms 1824 - 1837
The first Catholic Chapel was opened in Chapel Street in 1773. This chapel was replaced by a second building in 1781. By the late 1820s the chapel was too small for the increasing Catholic population so a larger church was built on a new site at Larkhill. This church was opened on 22nd June 1826.
The baptism register commences in 1783, marriage register in 1826 and burials in 1827.