Even if the church records do not include marriage information, careful reading of church minutes may enable you to pinpoint an approximate date if you note when Amanda Jones ceases to be mentioned and John Henderson and his wife, Amanda, appear. You can determine the likely church of your ancestors by knowing their ethnic origins and by studying the history of the particular locality where they lived. Ascertain which churches existed when your ancestors resided there. Most local histories will contain information about the early churches with formation dates of churches in that town or county. Some church records can be found in state libraries, archives and historical societies.
Many universities have outstanding collections of church records.
For example, the Friends Historical Library is located at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa., has an excellent collection of Quaker records, while The Study Center for Early Religious Life in Western New York at Ithaca College, has microfilm and printed copies of 300 collections of church records for that area. The famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City has been locating and microfilming church records from all over the world for years. By searching its catalog under the state and county of interest you may discover the records you need are easily accessible. Now in its ninth edition, it provides brief histories of more than 220 denominations, along with their doctrines or main teachings and their governmental organization.