tithe

Formerly, payment exacted from the inhabitants of a parish for the maintenance of the church and its incumbent; some religious groups continue the practice by giving 10% of members' incomes to charity.

It was originally the grant of a tenth of all agricultural produce made to priests in Hebrew society. In the Middle Ages the tithe was adopted as a tax in kind paid to the local parish church, usually for the support of the incumbent, and stored in a special tithe barn; as such, it survived into contemporary times in Europe and Britain. In Protestant countries, these payments were often appropriated by lay landlords.

In Britain in the 19th century a rent charge was substituted. By the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, tithes were abolished and replaced by ‘redemption annuities’ payable to the crown, government stock being issued to tithe‐owners.