Woodbury Curacy

Chanter 225C, 1287-1288

    [Addressed to Revd Mr Charles Williams, Woodbury, belonging to the Vicars Choral of the Cathedral Church of Exeter. The words 'at my approaching Primary Visitation, and may be deliver'd either to the Register, or to my Secretary' are crossed through and 'and sent to me under a cover to myself at Westminster' written in the margin. Dated 5 June 1746.]

  1. Population and dissenters: Three Hundred – of which twenty nine are Presbyterians, and one Anabaptist. one Licenced Presbyterian Meeting-House: – The Teacher is Mr Eleazas Hancock.

  2. Public or charity schools: Yes. Sixteen children are taught in it. They are nominated from Time to Time (according to the Directions contained in the wills of the Benefactors) by the Minister and Church Wardens for the Time being. The Children are carefully and legally instructed by their master, and duly brought to church.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: No alms-house. Three charitable endowments: 1 of £3 6s 8d payable yearly forever by the company of mercers in the City of London. 2dly a Rent charge payable yearly forever out of an Estate called Hockerland in the Parish of Coliton Rawleigh in this county. 3dly a Head Rent of £6 0s 0d payable yearly out of a Dwelling House in St. Mary the Moore in the City of Exeter, and charged also on several Tenements and Lands in West-Teignmouth, in this County the 1st of these is under the Direction of the Xch Wardens; the two last of Feoffees and principal inhabitants. A Small Tenement, situate in this Parish, known by the Name of Clarke's House left for the Repair of the church, 'Tis under the Direction of Feoffees. They are, and I am told, have been properly applied.

  4. Residence upon cure: I do reside personally upon my Cure, but not in the Parsonage House; that being the distant Property of my Constituents.

  5. Curate: No.

  6. Divine service at other churches: No.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Twice every Lord's Day, with a Sermon in the Morning and Evening: Cheif Festivals and State-Days in the morning only.

  8. Frequency of communion: Four Times (viz) Xtmas Day, Easter Day, Whitsunday, and the First Sunday after the Feast of St. Michael.

  9. Number of communicants: Ninety and upwards; Seventy of which usually receive: Near Eighty communicated last Easter.

  10. Catechising of children: I generally begin to catechise the Children the First Sunday after Easter, and continue 'till I have gone thro the Parish: all the Parishioners (who are not Dissenters) being careful to send their Children and Servants to be instructed by me.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: No publick Chapel. One private one; 'tis Two Miles from the Parish Xch: It belongs to Sir Francis Drake of Nutwel: No Service has been performed in it for some years past.

    C: Williams
    Woodbury June 30th 1746.

    Woodbury Curacy: Charles Williams A:M.
    Licenced Sept. 24. 1735. Priest June 1st. 1735.
    Stephen Exon. [Explanation]