Church of England

The diocese has at times over the centuries included all of the parishes in Norfolk (except Emneth, part of the Bishop of Ely's peculiar) and Suffolk, plus some parishes in parts of Cambridgeshire.

In 1837 the Cambridgeshire parishes and most of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in west Suffolk were transferred to the Diocese of Ely.

More changes in 1914 left the diocese with the Norfolk parishes east of the River Great Ouse and the parishes in north-east Suffolk in and around Lowestoft.

In that same year, parishes in east Suffolk moved to the newly founded Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

As the Diocesan Record Office appointed by the Bishop of Norwich, the Norfolk Record Office (NRO) holds the records of the following.

To help you find the records in our NRO catalogue (opens new window), series prefixes are listed in brackets.

Includes the series of registers and act books started before the Reformation as well as post-Reformation items, including:

• Consistory court act books, minutes and papers
• Visitation books and papers
• Glebe terriers
• Register bills
• Probate inventories
• Ordination registers and papers
• Consecration registers
• Papers and faculties

Estate records include manorial material, bailiff and collectors' accounts and records of the Abbey of St Benet's, inherited when the bishopric exchanged its possessions with the Crown in 1535.

For the 20th century there are financial and administrative records including committee minutes of the diocesan boards.

Includes financial records of the Old Foundation, such as obedientiary rolls and lay and clerical taxation.

Records of the New Foundation include:

• Chapter books
• Records of official appointments
• Title deeds
• Estate leases, rentals and surveys
• Manor court rolls, accounts and other related records
• Peculiar administration (probate, visitation, coroner's inquests and consolidation of parishes)
• Precinct jurisdiction matters
• Legal documents
• Diocesan and episcopal affairs
• Charities, scholars, and schools
• The cathedral fabric
• Personal papers of various deans, including those of Edmund Suckling (dean from 1614-28) and Humphrey Prideaux (dean from 1702-24)

Some records of the dean and chapter's peculiar administration (such as Acts of Court, register transcripts, visitation papers and marriage licence bonds) are listed separately (PDC).

There are also some documents from the Dean and Chapter Library (DCL).

Records include:

• Visitation books and papers
• Probate inventories
• Churchwardens' declarations
• Repair injunctions and certificates
• Register bills
• Financial papers and accounts
• Glebe terriers and inventories
• Dilapidations reports
• Clergy lists
• Marriage licence bonds and affidavits
• Legal papers

Records include:

• Visitation books and papers
• Probate inventories
• Churchwardens' presentments and declarations
• Register bills
• Financial papers and accounts
• Clergy lists
• Marriage licence bonds and affidavits
• Penances and meetinghouse applications
• Other legal papers

Archdeaconry of Lynn (ANL)

Correspondence and maps (mainly tithe) only.

Rural deaneries (RLD)

The office of rural dean was revived in 1842 after its disappearance at the Reformation. Records include:

• Minute books
• Magazines and papers relating to vacant benefices

Its jurisdiction extended over the parishes of Castle Rising, Roydon, and North and South Wootton.

It was exempt from the Archdeacon's but not the Bishop's jurisdiction. We only hold probate records.

Jurisdiction extended over the parishes of:

• Arminghall
• West Beckham
• Catton
• Hindolveston
• Lakenham
• Martham
• Norwich St Mary in the Marsh with St Luke's Chapel (which included the Cathedral Precinct)
• Norwich St Helen
• Norwich St James Pockthorpe
• Norwich St Paul
• Eaton by Norwich
• Great Plumstead
• Sedgeford
• Sprowston 
• Trowse Newton

It was exempt from the Archdeacon's jurisdiction but not the Bishop's. For records, see the section on the Dean and Chapter.

Its jurisdiction extended over Great Cressingham parish only.

It was exempt from both episcopal and archidiaconal jurisdiction.

Records include:

• Visitation acts
• Citation mandates
• Churchwardens' presentments
• Probate records
• Marriage licence bonds and affidavits

Records include:

• Title deeds
• Manorial records
• Maps and other records relating to the Bishopric and Dean and Chapter Estates
• Maps relating to proposals for forming new parishes in Norfolk
• Records of Queen Anne's Bounty
• Other papers

Parishes (PD)

A summary of parish registers and transcripts held by the NRO is available.

Probate

We also hold the records of wills, administrations and inventories proved by the church courts - see our Probate section for more information.

We only hold tithe maps and apportionments for the Diocese of Ely.

Parishes (PD)

Fordham and Fincham deaneries only. A summary of parish registers and transcripts held by the NRO is available.