Okehampton, Deanery of Okehampton

Chanter 225A, 342-343

  1. Population and dissenters: There are about three Hundred Families of these there are about twelve Dissenting Families under ye Denomination of Presbyterians, & two under ye Denomination of Quakers. The Former of which have a Licens’d Meeting House; Their Teacher’s Name is John Greby: The latter have likewise a Licenced Meeting: House but they have no Holder=forth.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is in this Parish a Publick Grammar=School endow’d with ye sum of six pounds per annum given by Jno Northmore <late> of This Town, which has not lately been paid, because in Dispute. The Number of Children taught in ye School are Eighteen. They are daily taught and Instructed in ye Principles of ye Xstian Religion according to Canon, & are duely brought to Chappel, on every Morning & Evening.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There are Several Alms=Houses in this Parish; In what manner they are endow’d, or what Frauds, or Abuses have been committed in respect to these Charitable uses I entirely am Ignorant of. The four respective Persons who are summon’d to give their Answers in this Case may give a Compleat Answer.

  4. Residence upon cure: There is no present Incumbent: The Living is under Sequestration.

  5. Curate: We have no residing Curate under Sequestration, but we daily expect a Residing Vicar.

  6. Divine service at other churches: Excuse me from giving an Answer, I am only an officiating Minister employed by ye Church=wardens of ye Parish.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is <perform’d> in this Church on every Lord’s Day, in the Morning & Evening; and on every other Festival.

  8. Frequency of communion: On Four several Sundays in the year, whereof Easter is One.

  9. Number of communicants: In this Parish there are about one Hundred & Eighty Communicants, of which Eighty usually receive. At Easter, One Hundred & five Communicated.

  10. Catechising of children: Since ye <late> Incumbent’s death ye Children have been regularly catechis’d on several Sundays since Whitsunday.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is one Chappell within this Parish <(viz St James’s)> at an half mile Distant from the Church, Serv’d by ye Revd John Silke Chaplain to ye Mayor & Corporation. We have Three Chappells in Ruins, Demolish’d at ye time of the Reformation.

    These are ye true answers which I can make to ye abovesaid Queries, witness my Hand. John Silke Reader, July 5th 1744.