Bishop of Exeter S Visitations at Twitchen

Bishop of Exeter’s Visitations at TWITCHEN

The 18th-century episcopal visitations took the form of a list of questions sent to the parish clergy who would fill them in and return them to the bishop. Here are two returns for Twitchen.

1744

The vicar was asked about population and dissenters and replied that there were 30 and no Dissenters.

There were no schools, almshouses, hospitals or charitable endowments.

The church was regarded as a Daughter Church to North-Molton where he was obliged to reside. He had no curate and served Twitchen only once every three weeks because North Molton was too large for him to be absent oftener. Communion was celebrated four times a year at Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday & Michaelmas. Of 20 communicants, 10 normally receive, 15 at Easter.

Children are usually catechised here in the summer time. Parishioners are something negligent in sending their Children, however he trusts they will be more diligent for the future.

The vicar James Flexman A.M was ordained 19 September 1736 and instituted 29 October 1742.

1779

The vicar stated that he resided in the Vicarage house, by which he meant North Molton, but he also held the rectory of Wear-Gifford, near Great Torrington, Devon.

He served Twitchen, a Chapel belonging to North Molton, only once every three weeks, and twice on Sunday at North Molton when not at Twitchen.

Communion was celebrated at North Molton eight times in the year by about 80 communicants and at Twitching by about ten communicants, four times in the year.

Children were catechised here in June and July. Parishioners are something negligent in sending their Children, however he trusts they will be more diligent for the future.

The church fabric was in decent repair and the glebe terrier was properly signed.

There were 400 families, presumably in North Molton and Twitchen, and no dissenters or meeting houses.

There was an almshouse, at North Molton, founded and endowed by the ancestors of John Parker of Saltram, Devon and a small writing school, but no hospital, or parochial library. A few benefactions left to the poor are duly applied.

James Flexman Junior was ordained 4 November 1770 and instituted to North Molton 16 May 1774 and to Wear Gifford 15 March 1775. He ended by declaring that a letter from the bishop, directed to him at North Molton near South Molton, Devon, would be sure to come to his hands.

Bishop of Exeter S Visitations at Twitchen