Kent Parish Records
In general terms, Canterbury Cathedral Archives hold the records for parishes in the Archdeaconry of Canterbury. The Centre for Kentish Studies has the Archdeaconries of Maidstone and Tonbridge and also the Diocese of Rochester (except those in the Archdeaconry of Rochester, held by Medway Archives). Records relating to the Archdeaconry of Bromley are in Bromley Archives (the Deaneries of Bromley, Beckenham and Orpington) and in Bexley Archives (the Deaneries of Erith and Sidcup). Lewisham Local Studies Centre holds Lewisham and Lee. Greenwich Heritage Centre have some (but not all) records for Deptford, Greenwich, Charlton, Kidbrook and Eltham. Other from these, parishes which are now part of Greater London should be held by the London Metropolitan Archives. If that's not enough, there's also East Kent Archives Centre but they don't hold any parish records. Simple, eh?
This list of Kent parishes together with their appropriate archive offices may help. The list can be accessed via the initial letter of the parish you're interested in shown on the bottom of this page.
Records shown as being in the custody of the incumbent may have been filmed or transcribed or both. Please check with the Records Office concerned. The parishes involved are Ash next Sandwich (Canterbury) and Ashford St Mary, Betherseden, Lenham, Maidstone All Saints and Wormshill (Maidstone).
Please see the note on Bishops' Transcripts to plug some holes in the records.
There will inevitably be errors in this list. Please don't undertake any travel or otherwise commit to any expense without checking with the Archives Office.
Please note that the Centre for Kentish Studies, Canterbury Cathedral Archives and East Kent Archives Centre are part of the Kent Archives Services run by Kent County Council. Medway Archives are run by Medway Council
If travel to Kent is inconvenient for you, please see the home page for details of my research service