St Thomas the Apostle, Deanery of Kenn

Chanter 225A, 144-145

1. Population and dissenters: Three hundred twenty seven; forty two of which are Dissenters.
   Twenty one of these Familes are Presbyterians.
   Eleven are Anabaptists.
   Eight are Quakers.
   Two are Arrians.
   There is no Meeting House in ye Parish.

2. Public or charity schools: William Gould of Hayes Esqr gave ten Pounds a year forever, for ye teaching twenty four poor Children to read. And Mr Pate of Cowick gave one Pound ten shillings yearly for ye teaching four poor Children to read: Care is taken to instruct them in ye Principles of ye Christian religion, according to ye Doctrine of ye Church of England; & They are brought duly to Church.

3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: We have no Alms House, Hospital or charitable Endowment in this Parish. We have no Lands or Tenements left for the Repair of our Church, or other pious uses. We have only some small Donations of Bread & ye Interest of some small sums of Gift money, which are faithfully distributed among the Poor by ye minister & officers of ye Parish.

4. Residence upon cure: I do reside personally on my Cure, which is a vicarage, but I cant discover, there was ever any House belongong to it.

5. Curate: I have no Curate here.

6. Divine service at other churches: I do not officiate in any Church besides my own.

7. Frequency of divine service: Divine service is perform’d twice every Lords Day in my Church; there is a sermon every morning & Affternoon, except it be prevented by sickness or some other unavoidable Acident.

8. Frequency of communion: Six Times in ye year.

9. Number of communicants: How many Persons {are} of Age to commiunicate in my Parish, I cant say. But ye usual number yt receives is between seventy & eighty; & I suppose twas about this number yt receiv’d last Easter.

10. Catechising of children: I begin to Catechise ye Children in ye Spring & do continue hearing them & expounding ye Catechism to Them <Wednesdays & Fridays> as long as any come before me to be instructed in the Church. The Parishioners dont send their Children & servants to be instrcuted by me in my House, except it be before Confirmation.

11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: Here is a Chapel in Ruins at Oldridge, which is a Hamlet belonging to this Parish; two of the Bells are still remaining in ye Custody of One of ye Inhabitants. Formerly there were four or five small Fields, ye property of ye Vicar; but they have for many years been seiz’d & leas’d out by a Lord of ye Manour. Tis five miles distant from ye Church.

    St. Thomas ye Apostle V... Edward Reeks A.M. inst. Jan XI. 1728 Presb Jun 8 1707. [Explanation]