Lapford, Deanery of Chumleigh

Chanter 225B, 758-759

  1. Population and dissenters: I have in my Parish about eighty Families. No Dissenters, nor Meeting-house.

  2. Public or charity schools: We have no Publick or Charity School in our Parish. The Clark of late has taught a few Children to read, whom he likewise instructs in the Church Catechism.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is in our Parish no Alms-house, Hospital or other charitable Endowment; except that Alexander Arundle formerly Rector and Patron of this Parish, gave to the Poor, not having constant Pay, twenty Shillings a Year to be forever paid out of an Estate in Morchard Bishop called Rudge Arundle to be distributed by the Minister and Church-warden, which is constantly done every Year.

  4. Residence upon cure: I reside on my Parsonage of Nimet Rowland, which is but one Mile distant from the Church of Lapford, and nearer to a great Part of Lapford than their own Parsonage House; As was certified to the last Bishop, who order’d me to reside There for the more convenient Serving of both Parishes.

  5. Curate: I have no Curate, but Serve both This and Nimet Rowland myself, as I was permitted to do by the last Bishop: Who also, in Consideration of ye Smallness of the Benefice, gave me Liberty to hold Nimet Rowland without a Dispensation from the Arch Bishop. And I shall humbly presume to wait on your Lordship, Soon after your Visitation, to request the Continuance of the Same Favour.

  6. Divine service at other churches: At Nimet Rowland; for the Reason above-mentioned.

  7. Frequency of divine service: On Christmas Day and the 3 days following; Ash-Wednesday Good-Friday, Monday and Tuesday in Easter and Whitsun-Week, 29th May. 11th. June and 5th November. Once a Month I perform Divine Service in ye Morning at Nimet Rowland, When there is no Service here in the Forenoon. On other Sundays I read Prayers and preach here. Morning and Afternoon, during the Summer. In the Winter I only read Prayers in the Afternoon.

  8. Frequency of communion: The First Sunday in every Month.

  9. Number of communicants: About one Hundred and Seventy: of whom about Twenty or Twenty five usually receive. At Easter last as near as I can recollect I had Thirty Communicants.

  10. Catechising of children: I begin to Catechize in Lent, and continue Catechizing 2 or 3 Families every Sunday ‘till all have been before me; And in case Any omit Coming when called, I insist on your Coming ye Sunday following. The Parishioners generally Send their Children to be Catechized upon the first Notice.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There are in our Parish two old Chapels, both in Ruins: One belonging to an Estate called Bury: the other on an Estate call’d Pennicot. Not one remembers Divine Service perform’d in either of them Nor can I learn whether they were ever consecrated.

    Lapford R.--- William Radford A.B.
    inst. Mar. 2. 1737. Presb. Sept. 24. 1732.
    Stephan. Exon. [Explanation]