Sampford Courtney, Deanery of Okehampton

Chanter 225A, 358-359

1. Population and dissenters: Our number of Families are one hundred eighty nine; there is one Family of Presbyterians three of Quakers; no Licencd Meeting House, nor any fix’d Teacher.

2. Public or charity schools: There is a Charity School raisd by the Contribution of My self & the Parishioners, it was open’d immediately after Xstmas the number of them when together is about forty, one time with another, for they are often shifting, they are carefully instructed in the principles of the Xstian Religion & brought duly to Church as the Canon requires.

3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: We have no Alms house, Hospital; we have thirty three Pounds stock money for the use of the poor in the Parishioners hands, we have ten Pounds left by Sr John Ackland for the binding out four children Apprentices; the best half lost for want of proper security. We have likewise twenty shillings a year in land for the use of the poor.

4. Residence upon cure: I do Reside Personally in my Parsonage House.

5. Curate: [No answer given]

6. Divine service at other churches: In None, Except in the Chapel mention’d in the eleventh Querie.

7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is perform’d twice every Lords day with a Sermon in the Morning, and Prayers are read on the Xstmas Easter & Whitsuntide Holy days, on all stated & occasional Fast days & Thanksgiving days.

8. Frequency of communion: The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is administred five times in the year, viz: at Xstmas two Sundays following at Easter, at Whitsuntide and at the Feast of St Michael.

9. Number of communicants: Not taking the first question right at first, I could not get any certain information in time. About threescore & ten is the usual number of Communicants. Last Easter there was near fourscore that Received on Easter Sunday & <as many> the Sunday following. By the best Judgment the most knowing can make the Number of the Communicants is about five hundred.

10. Catechising of children: I have not Catechis’d untill this yeare, in expectation of doing it more effectually when a school was raisd; which I could not procure till last Xstmas; since which time, I have frequently instructed the Children both privately in School & publickly in the Church and intend to continue so doing. The Parishioners that live neare the Church do send their Children & servants & take pains in instructing them themselves.

11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: I have a Chapel in My Parish call’d Stickle Path Chapel about five miles distant from the Parish Church and servd by my self twice in a year, and the Sacrament Administerd there each time as usual. There is likewise an old Ruinous Chapel call’d Brightly Chapel, to which I am presented by the College.

    Sampford Courtney Rect: John Heath A.M.
    Instit. Octob. 12. 1737. Presb. Sept. 24. 1732.
    Tho: Elien [Explanation]