The early records are in scribbled Latin which can be time consuming to read and some volumes may have been lost or destroyed during periods of conflict. Every Parish was required to send a copy of the registers to the Bishop and these transcripts have been preserved. The transcription is sometimes inaccurate but if the original register is missing the Bishop's Transcript might fill the gap. The Parish Council was responsible for providing financial care for members of the Parish. The Overseer of the Poor had the task of deciding who was eligible.
Some records survive, but many have been destroyed.
Until 1858 wills were proved and probate was granted in ecclesiastical courts and manorial courts. At this time there were at least 300 church courts which had the power to grant probate and today many of these wills and administrations can be found in Church libraries and depositories or in County Record Offices. A variety of taxes were collected through the Parish and many of these records survive today. Land tax returns can be particularly useful. Local Registrars were appointed to record births and deaths and to carry out civil marriages.