tithes

tithes. The tenth part of all fruits and profits due to God and thus to the Church for the maintenance of its ministry. The payment of tithes is ordered in the OT (Lev. 27: 30–2); it is, however, only implied in the NT (Mt. 5: 17–19), which places more emphasis on voluntary giving (e.g. 2 Cor. 9: 6–7). The early Church depended on offerings. In the 4th cent. payment of a tenth part of all produce of the land began to be taught as a Christian duty and in the following cents, this gradually became established. In England it was legally enforced by King Athelstan's Ordinance c.930. Tithes were at one time subject to canonical division between the bishop, the clergy, the fabric of the church, and the relief of the poor, but eventually their disposal was left to the clergy who received them. At first the owner of the land could pay the tithe to what clergy he liked, but as the parochial system developed the titnes of each parish were allotted to its own ‘parson’.

In England, as a result of various Acts from 1836 onwards, payment of tithe ceased in 1988. In Scotland tithes (called teinds) were collected until 1925; in Ireland they were abolished in 1871. They have never been part of the law in the USA.

For the distinction between C of E rectors and vicars, which derived from their entitlement to tithes, see RECTOR and VICAR. See also STEWARDSHIP.