Population and dissenters: The number of Families in my Parish is eighty five. Of these Four Familes, and two single women are open Dissenters, of the Presbyterian Persuasion. Formerly (probably from the Time of the Restoration, and) ‘til of late years there was a Presbyterian meeting in the Parish; first in Canonting, the {then} Dwelling House of the then Rector and Patron John Davyes Esqr., and after the Revolution in a Farm House, licensed for that Purpse. But for these last thirty years there has not, I believe, been any licensed or other meeting-House of Dissenters in my Parish; nor have I heard of any ministerial office done in my Parish, since my Institution to it, by any Dissenting Teacher; excepting the Baptism of Two Children, one about two years ago by a Presbyterian Teacher of Exeter, the other about seven years ago by a Presbyterian Teacher of Chudleigh, in the Houses of the respective Parents; of which neither, I believe, was licensed, and may be certain as to one of them; one only of the Parents being an open Dissenter from the Church.
Public or charity schools: The Clerk of my Parish teaches writing & Reading & instruct’s the Children of his School in the Church Catechism. Some others teach Reading. There is no Endowed or Charity School in my Parish.
Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is an Alms-house in my Parish, which was given to Feoffees anno 1655 by John Davyes Esqr, the then Lord of the manor of Christowe for the use of the Poor. By the same Deed he granted to the same Feoffees, without declaring the use, a Plot of Ground, said in the Deed to be adjoining to the Church-yard. This Plot yet remains open to the Church-yard, being bounded only by a Row of trees. The Parishioners claim & use it for a sporting-place. Its situation & its being granted in the times of Iniquity incline me to think it was originally a part of the Churchyard; and the Character of the Donor makes it probable.
For the good of the Poor inhabiting in this alms-house, and for other charitable
Purposes, John Stooke of Trusham anno 1691, granted by Deed to Feoffees Reversion of an Estate in this Parish for a Term of 2,000 years, after the Death of one Joan Luckys; viz, in Trust, for the providing five four penny Loaves weekly to be distributed to five such Poor, inhabiting in the said Houses, as should constantly and duly attend the publick service of the Church and the Holy Communion:- and for the paying yearly by equaly quarterly Payments to the Poor of Ashton five Pounds, to the Rector of Trusham five Pounds to the Clerk of Christowe [Illegible deletion] ten shillings, and the overplus of the Profitts to the vicar of Christowe with a Power to the Trustees to reserve to themselves three shillings and four Pence yearly. Joan Luckys died in the year 172 [sic] since which time the Benefaction hath been under the Direction of three Farmers of my Parish, of whom two are Dissenters. I cannot say it hath been managed without abuse: and if any should be for the future I do not apprehend your Lordships Jurisdiction enables you to redress it, the Charity being given by Deed.
Divine service at other churches: I perform Divine Service in no Church besides my own; excepting occasionally in the Sickness, or absence of the neighbouring Clergy.
Frequency of divine service: Divine service is performed in my Church twice every Lord’s Day, with two sermons. I give notice of all Holidays, and attend, but cannot get a Congregation.
Frequency of communion: I administer the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper five Times in a year, according to the ancient usuage in my Parish viz; on the three great Festivals, and the first Sundays after Easter and Michaelmas-Days.
Number of communicants: The People of my Parish (excluding the Dissenters) who are of proper age to be admitted to the Holy Communion, besides several of those, whom I shall present to your Lordship for Confirmation, are about one hundred and sixty. The usual number of those that receive is about thirty:- on Easter Day. And the following Sunday about fifty five.
Catechising of children: I have constantly catechized all the Children of my Parish, that have been sent to me, in the Church after the Second Lesson in the Afternoon for several Sundays in the Summer. The Poorer sort are generally very negligent in sending their Children.