Dunterton, Deanery of Tavistoke

Chanter 225B, 473-474

  1. Population and dissenters: My Lord, I have about 27 Families in my Parish, none of which are Dissenters of any Sort or Denomination, Nor is there any licenc'd or other Meeting House in it.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is no Publick or Charity School endow'd or otherwise in my Parish.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: No Alms-House, Hospital or other Charitable Endowment whatever. No Lands or Tenements have ever (as far as I know or have heard) been left for the Repair of the Church or other Pious use, except the Share of one little Meadow which has usually be let for eighteen Pence a Year, but this Year yeilds nothing.

  4. Residence upon cure: I cannot properly say that I reside upon my Cure or in my Parsonage House tho' I spend the greatest Part of my time there; because I lodge at Lifton. The Reason is that the House was left by the late Incumbant (who never liv'd in it) in so ruinous a condition that I have not yet been able so fully to repair it, as to render it any way fit to receive me. I shall do it with all possible Speed, & make no Doubt of getting into it before Michaelmas; till which time I humbly beg your Lordships <Indulgence> to lodge where I do. Your Lordship may be assur'd I shall delay it no longer than is absolutely necessary as tis both Interest & Inclination to live there; If the late Incumbents Executor had been a man of half as much Honour or Honesty as Power I shou'd have been there before this time. But merely upon the score of the latter he has not only refus'd to make any Satisfaction for the Dilapidations both in ye {Church} House & Chancel (the necessary repairs of which will cost more than Sixty Pounds) but likewise for the Glebe which he kept more than half a year after his Mothers Death, or in short to pay any Tythes or any thing that is due to me. It may be said that I might have a Remedy from ye Law; it may be so & it may not be so; The justest Cause sometimes miscarries especially when powerfully oppos'd & if this Should be my case I shall only add weight to ye Burden which is already greater than I can well bare.

  5. Curate: As I have only one little Living I think I am not concern'd in this Quære. I serve the Living myself.

  6. Divine service at other churches: Never but in ye Way of friendly Assistance, in Sickness or the like Case.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is duely perform'd in my Church twice every Lords Day, with a Sermon in the Morning & likewise on all ye great Anniversary Fasts & Festivals.

  8. Frequency of communion: Four times in the year.

  9. Number of communicants: The Number of the Communicants I have not yet been long enough in the Parish to discover; but at Easter & Whitsunday, the only times I have yet administer'd, about 30 I believe receiv'd each time.

  10. Catechising of children: Whilst I serv'd a Curacy I always catechised the Children as often as the Parents or Masters wou'd send them since I came to my own Parish I have catechisd them Several times over but the misfortune is those that are sent are so young as to be capable of very little Instruction. Those of riper years are (as they think) too wise to be instructed, or asham'd to expose their Ignorance.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is a House in the Parish known by the name of the Chapel & Tradition says it antiently was such, but what Grounds there is for it I know not. It is now put to common use.

    Dunterton R... Humphry Bryant A.B.
    inst. Octr 4th 1743: Presb: Septr 19 1731. [Explanation]