Dr Thomas Secker's Visitation 1738

Below is an account of a visit to Marston in 1738 by Dr Thomas Secker on behalf of The (church) Diocese of Oxford.

 

1. The extent of the parish is two miles, the number of houses forty-four, and no families of note in the place; nor any hamlets or villages belonging thereto.

2. There are no papists in the parish

3. There are no Presbyterians, Independants nor Anabaptists.

4. There are no Quakers.

5. There are no persons who profess to disregard religion, that I know of.

6. I constantly reside upon my cure, having taken a house near the church for that purpose {these words are struckout} The Reverend Mr Price of All Souls College in Oxford is my Curate and he serves no other Cure {These words are added in another handwritting}

7. Publick Service is duly performed twice every Lord's Day and one sermon preached: prayers are read in the church on Frydays and all Holy Days throughout the year {the words 'on Frydays' are struck out}. The children are catechis'd every Sunday in the afternoon during the Holy season of Lent. They have ye catechism explained to them. I know of no persons who frequent publick worship who have not been baptised. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is adminstered five times in ye year and usually thirty communicants present.

8. There is no Free School, Hospital or Alms House in ye Parish.

9. There is no Voluntary Charity School.

10. No lands or Tenements that I know of have been given at any time to church or to poor.

11. The money collected at the sacrament is dispos'd of by me to such of the poor who constantly attend Divine Service and receive the Holy Communion.

12. I know of no other matter relating to the Parish which it is proper to inform yr Lordship of, beside what these answers contain.

John Warner Curate {these words are crossed through}

John Coxe Vicar {these words are added in another handwriting}

John Coxe was instituted Vicar in 1758

 

[v. Thomas Berdmore 1735-8]

 

 

(Primary)(issued May 30: earliest surviving articles of Visitation for Diocese of Oxford). Trscr. & Ed. The Revd H. A. Lloyd Jukes ORS 38 (1957) pp 100-101