Belston, Deanery of Okehampton

Chanter 225A, 362-363

  1. Population and dissenters: In this Parish there are thirty Families: Of these not one Dissenter of any Sort, neither is there any Meeting House for Dissenters in this Parish.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is no Publick, or Charity School in this Parish; but Parents <themselves> take care to instruct their Children in the Principles of the Christian Religion according to the Doctrine of the Church of England, & bring them duly to Church, as the Canon requires.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is no Charitable Endowment in ye Parish in respect of ye Church, Alms=House or Hospital: There are three pounds Stock=money ye insterest of which is distributed on Every Easter Monday among such Poor, who receive no constant Pay, by Overseers.

  4. Residence upon cure: The Rector does not reside on his Cure, but at Great Torrington where he keeps a Grammar=school.

  5. Curate: The Curate’s names is John Silke who resides at Oakhampton where he teaches Grammar by licence. The Allowance for serving the Cure is twenty five Pounds.

  6. Divine service at other churches: I do not perform divine Service in any Church besides my own.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is performed in our Church twice on every Lords Day with a Sermon in the Morning.

  8. Frequency of communion: The Holy Sacrament is administred in our Church five times in ye Year.

  9. Number of communicants: There are in this Parish forty five Communicants of these thirty usually receive. At Easter last Thirty five Communicated.

  10. Catechising of children: The Children are catechiz’d on six several Sundays in Lent, & on six several Sundays ensuing Whitsunday. The Parents duly send their Children to be instructed.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is no Chapel wherein Divine Service is perform’d, neither is there any Chapel in Ruins. These <are> as full & particular Answers as I can give <to> ye Above Queries. Witness my Hand, June 24th 1744. John Silke Curate.

    Belstone R: Thomas Bate Inst. 1728. [Explanation]