Dean Prior, Deanery of Totness

Chanter 225B, 505-506

  1. Population and dissenters: The number of families about fifty. no meeting house in the parish. nor do I know of anyone at present that frequents any separate congregation.

  2. Public or charity schools: there is no charity school in the parish, but the parish give some yearly allowance to a master who teaches poor children to write, and read, teaches them the catechism of the Church of England, and brings them to church to be catechised.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: no alms house, or Hospital in the parish, nor any endowment, save ten shillings a year charged on a feild in the parish, to buy Bibles every year for the poorer sort, and ten pounds in the hands of the overseers {to be} the increase of which is to be every year distributed by the Minister, and parish officers.

  4. Residence upon cure: Not resident but residing at Ide by your Lordships allowance in regard to a long sickness of many years.

  5. Curate: There is a residing curate Mr Edward Dingle ordained with that title by your Lordship. being a single man he does not live in the Vicarige house, but very near it. his allowance is the same as expressed in the title thirty pounds a year, the surplice fees, and Easter offerings.

  6. Divine service at other churches: In the parish of Ide where I reside, but the curate residing at Dean Prior does not perform divine service, but in the Church of that parish.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is performed twice every Lords day and preaching twice. Prayers are read on the Great festivals, at Christmas, Easter and Whitsontide, Ashwednesday, Passion week, 30 of January, when there is a sermon, 29 of May, 11 of June and 5 of November.

  8. Frequency of communion: Four times on Christmas day Easter day Whitsonday and the sunday after Micklemass.

  9. Number of communicants: The number of communicants is about thirty, and at Easter usually exceeds somewhat of that number.

  10. Catechising of children: The children are catechised in the church in course every year. and children and servants sent to be instructed in order to confirmation.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: No chapel within the parish.

    Dean Prior Vicaridge Tho Payne AM inst. March 24 1721. Presb. May 30 1708 Ofsp: Exon. [Explanation]