Okeford, Deanery of South Molton
Chanter 225B, 639-640
- Population and dissenters: About fifty, including poor families – No Dissenter, nor Meeting house.
- Public or charity schools: Here is a publick Charity School founded by the late Mrs Pinkham to teach the Children of poor Parents to read & write wherein fourteen poor Children & twenty others are taught – The Master whose Salary is five pounds a year instructs them very well in their Catechism & to read & write.
- Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is no Alms-house, Hospital, or other charitable excepting five pounds a year to be distributed to fourteen poor Persons who have no relief of the Parish Monthly in as many loaves & the interest of twenty pounds both which are impartially distributed with respect to the intention of the Donors.
- Residence upon cure: I constantly reside upon my Cure, not in the Parsonage house that being inhabited by a Tenant; but in a good house of Mr Haydon’s adjoining the Churchyard.
- Curate: I Edward Beadon am the residing Curate, & am duly qualified as I apprehend; being in Priest’s orders, & having a licence from your Lordship’s Predecessor. My allowance is thirty five pounds a year, with the surplice fees.
- Divine service at other churches: No.
- Frequency of divine service: Every holy day – & twice every Lord’s day with a sermon each time.
- Frequency of communion: Four times, viz, at the three great Festivals, & Michaelmass.
- Number of communicants: About forty five generally receive at Easter last past in particular fifty or thereabouts.
- Catechising of children: By reason of a sermon both parts of each Lord’s day I have only time to Catechise the Children from May to Michaelmas which I have begun accordingly & intend by God’s assistance to perform. The Parishioners send their Children & servants more & more so that I have usually near thirty.
- Chapels or chapels in ruins: Here is no Chapel in ruins, or otherwise.