Barnstaple, Deanery of Barnstaple

Chanter 225B, 659-660

1. Population and dissenters: The number of Families are computed to be Twelve or Thirteen Hundred: About one Hundred and Fifty are of the Presbyterian Persuasion. In one <Meeting House> Mr Boucher Preaches in the other Mr Walrond. Both Licens'd I believe We have no other Dissenters of any Denomination.

2. Public or charity schools: We have a Publick Grammar school endow'd by one Mr Jones with Ten pound per annum duly paid. We have likewise Two Charity schools {for one <for> boys the other for Girls}. In one are taught Twenty Boys <[illegible deletion]> to read, & write, and in the Other Twenty Girls taught to read knitt &c. The Above Ten pounds is paid to the master of the Grammar School by Dr. Spurway, Revd Mr Trewin, Mr Reed, and the Vicar of Barnstaple Trustees for that Purpose. All the Charity Children are duly instructed in the Church Catechism; These Charity schools are Supported by an Estate under the management of Five Trustees.

3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: We have Four Alms Houses, well endow'd, under the direction of Trustees. I know of no abuses or Frauds committed in the management of any of them.

4. Residence upon cure: I reside constantly in the Vicarage House.

5. Curate: I perform the Duty of the Place in Person.

6. Divine service at other churches: I do not.

7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is perform'd in the Church, viz. Prayers and Sermon twice Every Lords Day: And Prayers constantly every Wednesday and Friday, besides Holy Dayes.

8. Frequency of communion: The Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper is administred Eleven times in the year. viz. On Xtmas Day and the Sunday following, the first Sunday in Lent, Good Friday, Easter Day and the Sunday following, Whitsunday and Trinity Sunday, The First Sunday in August, Michaelmas Day, and the First Sunday in Advent.

9. Number of communicants: Usually near Two Hundred communicate each Time Last Easter there were more.

10. Catechising of children: I catechize the Children that are sent constantly every Summer on the Lords Day in the afternoon after the Second Lesson. The Children who usually attend are those belonging to the Charity Schools, who say their Catechism well.

11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: We have only One Chapel in our Parish, which belongs to Litchdon Alms House, {and} in which Prayers are read to the People of that Place on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Twice on Sundays by a Sober, Grave Layman, who has a Salary of Forty shillings per Annum paid by the Trustees.

    Barnstaple Vic: Thomas Steed, A.M. Inst. Step. 11. 1734. Presb. July: 7. 1728. Sept: Exon. [Explanation]