To the Revd the Min[iste]r of Holy Trinity

Chanter 232A, 188

  1. Residence, curate and lecturer: Mr Long and myself are Assistants to Mr Bradford the Rector of this Parish, We both reside within the Precinct of the Close. We are under an agreement with the Rector for a yearly Salary of forty pounds for serving this Parish and Wynards Chapel. There is no Lecturer.

  2. Other benefices: [No answer given]

  3. Divine service at other churches: We perform Divine Service at the Cathedral.

  4. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is performed twice on every Lord's Day with a Sermon each time. Divine Service is likewise performed every Wednesday, and Friday and every Saint's Day.

  5. Frequency of communion: The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administered upon the first Sunday of every month. The number of Communicants are generally between forty and fifty, upon the great Festivals double that number.

  6. Catechising of children: There being a Sermon in the Afternoon, it has not been usual to Catechise the Children; except the Charity Children, who attend twice every year.

  7. Church fabric: The Church and Chancel is in good Repair, and we have all Things decent for divine Service. We have no Churchyard.

  8. Glebe terrier: We have no Glebe or Houses.

  9. Number of families: The number of Families amount to about three hundred and Seventy, as nearly as can possibly be ascertained by numbring them from house to house. Which has been done this week.

  10. Chapels: We have a private Chapel within this Parish founded by Wynard, Lord North appoints the minister, it <is> served once every Sunday, it is supported by Lord North out of an Estate which is subject to a yearly stipulated sum for that purpose by the will of Wynard. The Mayor and Justices of the Peace for the City are the Vissitors.

  11. Papists, dissenters and meeting houses: We have no reputed Papists, we have two meeting-Houses for Dissenting Congregations. One of them a Presbyterian meeting, the other a Quakers meeting. The Presbyterians have a number of Teachers who occasionally officiate, but their settled Teachers are Mr Towgood, Mr Tozer, and Mr Manning. Sr Harry Trelawny was lately chosen one of the Lecturers.

  12. School, alms-houses, hospital and charitable endowments: We have no publick or other School. We have 3 sets of Alms-Houses. One founded and endowed by the above Wynard, 12 Houses, 4 in the gift of Ld North, 8 in the gift of the Chamber with two Shillings and sixpence per week, and five Shillings every quarter. Those 4 in the gift of Ld North do not receive the pay. Six of those Houses have not been occupied for many years past till within this last year, but I am informed that all arrears have been paid to the present occupiers. The other two in the disposal of the Chamber. One consisting of 6 Houses Built and Endowed by Christopher Lethbridge Esqr. 1669 one Shilling and Sixpence per week each house. The other - 4 Houses, Built and Endowed by John Palmer 1487 five pence half-penny per week each house. The Devon and Exeter Hospital is in this Parish. We have no Library.

  13. Charity: There are a number of Benefactions & which have been left for pious and charitable uses, they are specified upon Tables affixed to the Walls of the Church and I believe are duly applied.

    Priest's orders and institution: Priests Orders August the 6th 1775.
    In obedience to your Lordship's Commands I have answered your Lordships enquiries to the best of my knowledge, having taken particular care to obtain every degree of information in my power. I remain your Lordships most Dutiful and most obedient Servant.

    Richd Eastcott Junr.
    Exeter May 12t 1779