Countisbury, Deanery of Sherwill

Chanter 225B, 717-718

    [The words 'sign'd by yourself, at my approaching Primary Visitation, and may be deliver'd either to the Register, or to my Secretary' are crossed through and 'to the Bp by the post' written in the margin.]

  1. Population and dissenters: The Number of Families in our Parish is about Twenty-one. There are no Dissenters of any Sort or Denomination, nor any licensed or other Meeting House, nor any Dissenting Teacher within our Parish.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is not any Publick or Charity School, endowed or otherwise maintain'd, in our Parish.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is no Alms-house, Hospital, or other Charitable Endowment, no Lands or Tenements left for the Repair of the Church or any other pious use, within our Parish.

  4. Residence upon cure: I reside upon my Vicarage at Barnstaple having there a large Cure of Souls. Thos. Steed.

  5. Curate: I have a residing Curate in the Parish of Linton, who serves the Parish Church of Linton & Countisbury every Lord's Day. His Name is Edward Nichols. He is duly qualified according to the Canons in that Behalf. He does not live in the Parsonage or Vicarage House, but in a House more commodious for Himself & his Family in the Parish of Linton aforesaid. His Allowance for serving the Churches of Linton & Countisbury is Thirty Pounds per Annum.

  6. Divine service at other churches: [No answer given]

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is perform'd in our Church on Sundays & Holy-days, once a Day. It is impracticable to perform Divine Service in this Church twice every Lord's Day, on account that My self or Curate must serve the Church of Linton the same Day; & He, who performs Divine Service in the one Church, does it also in the other: Besides, the Declivities and High Hills surmountable in ye Road between the Two Churches, with sweeping Floods of Water sometimes, are so difficult, that they are look'd upon to be very dangerous as well as the worst Road in your Lordship's Diocese.

  8. Frequency of communion: The Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administred four Times a year in our Church.

  9. Number of communicants: There are about Twenty Communicants in this Parish, which usually receive: And it was about that Number which Communicated at Easter last.

  10. Catechising of children: The Children are Catechiz'd in our Church between the Feast of Pentecost & the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel yearly. The Majority of the Parishioners do send their Children and Servants to be instructed in the Catechism, & some do not.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is no Chapel, nor any Chapel in Ruins within this Parish.

    Thos. Steed Admitted to the Perpetual Curacy of Countisbury Septr 11th. 1734. Presb: July 7th. 1728. Step. Exon. [Explanation]

Chanter 225B, 719-720

  1. Population and dissenters: The Number of Families in the Parish of Countisbury is Twenty-five. Of which, there is no Dissenter, nor any licensed or other Meeting-House or Teacher in the said Parish.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is no Publick or Charity School, endow'd or otherwise maintain'd in the <Parish> saving Women-teachers who are only capable of teaching Children to read & to learn the Principles of the Christian Religion.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is no Alms-house, Hospital, or other charitable Endowment in the Parish.

  4. Residence upon cure: I keep a Curate who resides in a proper Place of the Parish of Linton.

  5. Curate: The Name of my Curate is Edward Nichols; who is qualified according to ye Canons in that Behalf: To whom I allow Thirty Pounds per Annum for serving the Cures of Linton & Countisbury.

  6. Divine service at other churches: My Curate keeps the Churches committed to his Care regularly serv'd.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is perform'd in the Church of Countisbury only once a Day, on Account of his being oblig'd to serve the Church of Linton.

  8. Frequency of communion: The Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administred in our Church four Times a year.

  9. Number of communicants: There are Twenty-seven Communicants in the Parish of whom there are from fifteen to eighteen that usually receive. And there was Twenty-five, or therabouts, who Communicated at Easter last.

  10. Catechising of children: The Children are catechized once a Fortnight in our Church in the Summer-Season, & for the Reasons alledged & given in the Answer to these Queries for the Parish of Linton, no oftner. The Parishioners send their Children & Servants who have not learn'd their Catechism to the Church to be instructed therein.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is no Chapels within the Parish, nor any Chapel in Ruins.

    Countisbury R—Edward Nichols Curate, Presb. Sep. 20th. 1741. [Explanation]