Marlborough, Deanery of Woodley

Chanter 225B, 543-544

1. Population and dissenters: There are one Hundred fifty three families seven of which are Anabaptists one Presbyterian & one Papist. There are two rooms in the town of Salcombe that have been Licenced, but at present there is no teaching in them, nor hath there been for years past.

2. Public or charity schools: There is no Publick or Charity School endowed or otherwise maintain'd in this Parish.

3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is an Almshouse, but no Hospital, also a Gifthouse but the power is invested in the widdow of the Donor During her life. There are also several parcels of Land left for the repair of the Church & impotent Poor the management & direction whereof is left to twenty four Feoffees according to the will of the Donor. Nor do I know of any abuse committed in the management of them except the money that is expended at their publick meeting.

4. Residence upon cure: I do personally reside upon this Cure, but not in the Parsonage House, that being in Ruins.

5. Curate: I am the resident Curate, allowed by Licence Thirty pound per annum by agreement with the vicar of West=Alvington to which this Parish is annexed. Thirty five.

6. Divine service at other churches: Not unless it be to the assistance of a neigbouring Clergyman either Sick or absent.

7. Frequency of divine service: On Sundays, Fasts & thanksgiving days & other Holidays, but Divine Service with a sermon is performed but once in the Day, because the Cure of South Huish is annex'd to this.

8. Frequency of communion: The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is administred four times in the year, at Easter, Whitsunday, Michaelmas, & Christmas.

9. Number of communicants: There are about one <Hundred> Communicants, fifty & upwards of whom usually receive, & I believe near that number communicated at Easter last past.

10. Catechising of children: I Catechise the children in the Church once in the year which is usually done in the Summer Quarter. The Parishioners do not send their children to be instructed by me, they being taught their Catechism, either at home or at School.

11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is an old Chapel in ruins at Salcombe in this Parish, about two miles distant from the Church, but it's name I cannot learn; Divine service hath not been performed in it since the memory of the oldest man living here.

    Cure of Malborough Mark Bawden A:B: Licenced Novr. 20 1740
    Presb: May 24: 1741. Stephen Exon. [Explanation]