xlii. FIRST WINTER MEETING. 



174, while Stoke Abbot with 100 families has seldom more than four. 

 But few Churches have Service on Good Friday. Ascension Day I have 

 found no mention of at all. In 1737 John Hutchins, who was Incumbent 

 of Swyre, resided at Melcomb Horsey. Svvyre was worth 47. The 

 Curate was paid 17 a year. In 1766 the historian of Dorset, while still 

 holding Swyre, was " residing at his other living of Wareham." He died in 

 1773. 



The following, typical extracts, refer for the most part to parishes in, or 

 in the neighbourhood of, our County town : 



Dorchester All Saints depended chiefly on contributions. The 

 Incumbent, John Jacob, was resident. There were one Papist and some 

 Presbyterians. There is an Anabaptist meeting-house : their teacher was 

 Mr. Seymour, a taylor. The Church hath a tower and three bells. Seth 

 Banks, B.A., was instituted February 19th, 1759. In 1766 there were about 

 80 families, 5 of which were Presbyterians ; No Methodist ; No Baptists. 

 Mr. Banks lives at Fordington and serves Brodmain as well as his own 

 Church. Services every Sunday one in the morning, the other in the 

 afternoon. Children are catechised in Lent, and at other times occasionally. 

 July 15th, 1769, John Kendall, B.A., instituted. On September 29th, 1774 

 Thomas Bryer, B.A. ' was instituted at Bristol after taking Orders." 



Dorchester St. Peter and St. Trinity with Frome Whitfield St. Michael 

 (the last mentioned a peculiar under the Dean of Sarum). 200, but this 

 belongs to the small Church of ye Trinity. All Saints the large Church is 

 of no value. Incumbent, Wm. Leigh, Rector also of Litchet Matravers. 

 Resident here, the Curate, John Ellis. Three or four Papists, one 

 person lately perverted. A Dissenting meeting-house, teacher, Baruch 

 Nowell. In 1752 John Hubbock, M.A., instituted, resident. In 1766, 

 number of families in Holy Trinity 124, in St. Peter's 108 ; five or six 

 only Dissenters of the Independent sect ; No Methodists, ; No Papists. 

 Mr. Hubbock, Master also of the Free Grammar School and lives in the 

 School House. The Parsonage House being only a poor thatched cottage. 

 He does all the duty and preaches twice every Sunday once in each 

 Church alternately. Prayer, Wednesdays, Fridays and Holy Days at 

 Trinity and every Sunday at St. Peters. Sacrament administered every 

 first Sunday in the month at each Church alternately. Communicants 

 150, but sometimes 200. In 1767 no Papists. 



Portland St. Swithin. Patron, Bishop of Winchester. 120 or 140. 

 Incumbent, Daniel Harris, resides at Weymouth, the Parsonage House 

 being destroyed long ago. Parish governed by Select Vestry of long 

 standing. Rector uneasy about it, but advised to acquiesce. No Dissenters 

 or Papists. Their way of conveyance is by delivering a straw in the 

 Church porch. Their accounts is by notches cut in sticks. The Church 

 has a Tower, but no bells. There has been no Confirmation. In 1763 

 whilst the Church was rebuilding, Service was performed in a Tabernacle. 

 The Church was consecrated in 1766, 



