Braunton V.
Chanter 225C, 1285-1286
[Addressed to the Reverend Mr Robert Gilbert, Vicar of Braunton, in the Diocese 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 'by the post under a cover to me at my house in Westminster' written in the margin. Dated 13 Feb. 1745-6]
- Population and dissenters: About two Hundred – of which There are Few Dissenters – of the Presbyterian Sect – who have a Licens'd House in which They usually Meet – And <are> there taught by Richard Glanville.
- Public or charity schools: There is a Free-School (endow'd with a Landed Estate of twenty pounds per annum) where The Children of the Parishioners are taught to Read, Write & Cast Accompts. The number of such Children at a time Usually about thirty: Part of the master's Care is to instruct them on sett days, Tuesdays & Fridays, in the Church Catechism: left (out of School) to the Care of Their Parents, to bring Them to Church.
- Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment:There is no Alms House, Hospital, or other Charitable Endowment, but above mention'd, Except forty Shillings per annum given to some Poor Person for teaching twelve poor Children to Read. This under the Direction of the Parish. No Frauds committed in it that I know of. No Lands left for the Repair of the Church.
- Residence upon cure: I do Reside upon my Cure, as a Boarder in a neighbour's family, but not in my Vicarage House. The Reason is <Chiefly> because it is situated so low, yt it is always exceeding Damp & Cold, & so near a River that runs close by the Walls of the said House, yt it is often overflowed, upon sudden hard Rains, & the consequent Swellings of that River. Finding the Situation of the said House inconvenient with my Health I obtain'd leave of the late Bishop to remove out of it.
- Curate: I have no Curate at present.
- Divine service at other churches: No.
- Frequency of divine service: Divine Service is perform'd in my church twice every Sunday with a Sermon in the morning, also on all Holidays & on every Wednesday & Friday thro' Lent.
- Frequency of communion: Five times.
- Number of communicants: Communicants viz. Persons capable of Communicating about 600, at least as near as I can Guess. Actual Communicants about fourscore. At Easter last there were ninety Six: i.e. about half that number on Easter Day, & half the Sunday after.
- Catechising of children: The Children of My Parish are constantly Catechiz'd on Sundays Wednesdays & Fridays thro' Lent, & at other Seasons of the year as new Children come up & occasion requires. The Parishioners never send Their Children to me 'till they have Themselves instructed Them in their Catechism.
- Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is a Chapel belonging to an Antient Family Seat formerly in the Family of Sr Jno. Chichester, now in that of John Basset Esqr of Heanton Court. No Use made of it. Two other Chapels in utter Ruins.
Robt. Gilbert Vicr of Braunton.
Braunton Vic: Preb: Exon Robert Gilbert A.M. Inst: 13. Jany. 1732. Coll. 9 Aug. 1737. Presb: 7 Jan. 173_ Thom: Asaph: [Explanation]