Cheldon, Deanery of South Molton

Chanter 225B, 613-614

  1. Population and dissenters: My Lord, I have eighteen Families in my Parish; all of the Church of England.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is no School, my Lord, in my Parish, but the Poor Children resort to Chawleigh an adjoining Parish for Instruction; where there is a School maintain'd by the Bounty of Coulson Fellowes Esqr my very worthy Patron.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is a House, my Lord, in my Parish for the Reception of the Poor; part of which was Leas'd out before I came to the Parish. The care of it is in twelve Feoffees, reputed honest Gentlemen and Farmers of the Parish and Neighbourhood. There is likewise belonging to the Poor (which is distributed by my Order & the Approbation of the Ch: Warden and Principal Inhabitants at proper Times) the Interest of thirty five Pounds yearly. And, my Lord, the Interest of twenty Pounds more, I am verily perswaded, belongs to them, which has not been paid for thirteen or fourteen years last past for want of the knowledge of the Donor, & who ought to pay it; 'tho there is a Person in our Parish, who rented an Estate in the Parish, that paid it for, & by the Direction of, the Owners, for several years in Bread. The Will of the Donor, one – Hill, as I am inform'd is in your Lordship's Court: but his Chritian name, the Parish where, and year when, he died I cannot learn.

  4. Residence upon cure: My Lord, I reside personally upon my Cure, and in my Parsonage House.

  5. Curate: [No answer given]

  6. Divine service at other churches: I perform, My Lord, Divine Service at my other little Living Meshaw, by your Lordship's Consent, and Approbation.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service, my Lord, is perform'd in my Church once every Lord's Day, with a Sermon. The other part of the Day, my Lord, I am to my other Living.

  8. Frequency of communion: Four Times, my Lord.

  9. Number of communicants: There are, my Lord, about 60 Communicants in my Parish; about 20 of which generally receive at a Time thereabouts was the Number last Easter.

  10. Catechising of children: My Lord, I Catechise the Children every Summer some several Sundays, 'till I have instructed them all.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: No, my Lord, there never was any Chapple, that I can learn, belonging to my small Parish.

    Cheldon Rectory, William Tanner A:B: Instituted Sept. 23th. 1737. Presb. June 5th. 1737. Stephen Exon. [Explanation]
    Wm Tanner