Tithing

The origin of the word tithe came from the Old English (O.E.) Teothian meaning a “tenth”. Tithe is mentioned in the Old Testament, and was later taken up by the Christian Church as a means to support the clergy, assist the poor and to maintain the church. The people were required to give a “tenth” of their income.  This could be in the form of either money, crops or even livestock. In the Medieval Period, tithes would  help to build the cathedrals on the continent as well as England.

In the 6^th century tithes were imposed by ecclesiastical law, and by the 8^th century it would be enforced by nonecclesiastical (secular) law. It was made obligatory in England in the 10^th century by Edmund I (939-46) using ecclesiastical penalties, which insisted on regular payment or offerings in kind.   Later by temporal (civil) penalties by Edgar(959-75). It was Edgar which introduced “that  every freeman must be enrolled in a group of ten”  which came under the name “tithing”. In each tithing there was a tithing man whose duty it was to keep the peace.

Landownership was outlawed by Pope Gregory VII,(1073-85)  this was an effort to control abuses, which had now become apparent.

Gradually the tithes were repealed in 1789 in France, 1887 in Italy, and Ireland in 1871 and also that year The Church of Scotland.  In 1836 in England the tithe was commuted for a rent charge, which depended on the price of grain. In 1888 the tithe became an obligation of the landlord and not the tenant.   By 1936 the tithe was abolished. However in some countries new methods of taxation were introduced to those countries that supported the church from Government funds.