This church was certainly founded by the Knights Templars, in
compliance with a custom very prevalent among the military monastic
orders, of establishing Preceptories in desert and uncultivated
places, with the view of introducing inhabitants, or of civilizing the
few that might be scattered over a wilderness. The benevolent
intentions of these gallant knights failed however in this particular
instance: the parish, which, judging from the analogy of similar
cases, must have been large, perhaps co-extensive with the Moors to
which it imparted a name, has shrunk into one of the least in
Cornwall. Its church has disappeared. The churchyard is not
distinguishable from any other inclosure; and the few parishioners
resort to neighbouring churches for divine service, for marriages, or
for the administration of the sacraments.
Cultivation is, however, introducing itself by means of the potatoe, a
vegetable destined to produce most gigantic effects on the condition
of mankind; greater perhaps than any other cause arising from the
discovery of a new world.
This little settlement was probably attached to the manor of Trebigh
in St. Ive’s, where the Knights Hospitallers had a preceptory. Certain
it is that the two properties have since travelled together, and are
now jointly reposing with the Devonshire family of Wrey. The Rev. B.
W. Wrey was instituted to the benefice in 1789.
Temple measures 936 statute acres.
Annual value of the Real Property as £. _s._ _d._
returned to Parliament in 1815 156 0 0
Poor Rate in 1831 7 16 0
Population,――{ in 1801, | in 1811, | in 1821, | in 1831,
{ 15 | 18 | 27 | 29
about doubled in 30 years.