Axminster, Deanery of Honiton

Chanter 225A, 15-16

  1. Population and dissenters: The Number of Families in my Parish is, I believe, Somewhat above three Hundred, of which about three=score are Dissenters chiefly of the Presbyterian Sort, some few Anabaptists, one Quaker, and one Roman=Catholick, - A large Presbyterian Meeting House licenced, the Teachers name Jonathan Wheeler.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is one Publick School in this Parish which has been hitherto maintain’d by annual Contributions, and which I have great Hopes will soon be endowed. In which forty Poor Children are taught to read & write, instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion according to the Doctrine of the Church of England, and brought to Church Wednesdays & Fridays as well as Lords Days.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is no Alms=House, or other Charitable Endowment in the Parish. Nor do I know of any Lands left for any Pious Use.

  4. Residence upon cure: I have always resided personally in the Vicarage House.

  5. Curate: [No answer given]

  6. Divine service at other churches: I am sometimes at Membury & Kilmington which are daughter Churches to this Parish.

  7. Frequency of divine service: I perform Divine Service twice every Lords Day, and for the most Part preach twice. I have also Prayers Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saints Days.

  8. Frequency of communion: I administer the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper the first Sunday in every Month, and also on the Usual Festivals, namely, Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide.

  9. Number of communicants: I have commonly upwards of threescore Communicants, and had, I believe, about that number Easter last.

  10. Catechising of children: I usually catechize the Children in my Parish every Sunday in the afternoon during the Summer Season and my Parishioners are punctual in sending them.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: I have two Daughter Churches or Chapels, Membury and Kilmington, Membury about three miles & Kilmington only one distant from me. They have been served for some years by Christopher Tatchell A:B: And who has left me at this time, being prefer’d.

    John Pester Vicar of Axminster.

    Axminster Vicarage, John Pester, A:B:
    inst: Sept: 21: 1731. – Presb: Sept: 25: 1726.
    Stephan: Exon. [Explanation]