Torrington parva, Deanery of Torrington

Chanter 225B, 784-785

  1. Population and dissenters: Tis reckon'd yt there are near an Hundred Families in this Parish, & there is but one Single Dissenter yt I know of.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is no Charity-School here.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There was formerly an Hospital in this Parish founded for ye Use of Lazars, or Leprous Persons, & some Lands & Tenements (which are called ye Magdalen Lands) appropriated for maintaining ye Same. But since ye ceasing of ye Distemper in this Nation, these Lands have by a Decree in Chancery been applied to ye Use of ye Poor of Great & Little Torrington.

  4. Residence upon cure: I reside here in ye Parsonage house.

  5. Curate: My Son is my Assistant, or residing Curate, & lives with me in ye Same House; & ye Allowance I make him was specified in ye Title I gave him when he went to be ordain'd.

  6. Divine service at other churches: No.

  7. Frequency of divine service: There is Divine Service & a Sermon every Lords-day, & sometimes twice, according as I am able or not able to perform.

  8. Frequency of communion: Four times viz. at ye three great Festivals, & on ye Parish on 2d. Sunday after Michaelmas.

  9. Number of communicants: I can't speak positively as to ye Number of those yt ought to communicate, because of ye continual Coming & Going of Sojourners, Husbandmen, & Day labourers. But ye usual Number of those yt receive is about 20, & last Easter were near 30.

  10. Catechising of children: I used to Catechise ye Children sometimes on ye Lord's-day, & sometimes on ye Week-days: but by reason of my great Disorder I have been forced to omit this for a Year & a half past.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: We have a Chappel belonging to ye Magdalen Lands beforementioned Situate near ye Bridge yt divides Great from Little Torrington, & is kept in good Repair. And for Reading Prayers there once a Month on ye Sunday Evenings between Lady-day & Michaelmas, 40s is allow'd my son by ye Corporation of Torrington, & ye Officers of Little Torrington.

    Torrington Parva R.– Samuel Johnson, A.M.
    inst. Mar. 20. 1719/20. Presb. Sept. 20. 1713. Ofsp. Exon. [Explanation]