What Is A Tithe?

A tithe is an old English term that originates from the word teogothian, meaning 'tenth'.

A system where people would (for want of a better word) donate one tenth of their income to a religious organisation - sometimes this would be a monetary value or for the less affluent they could pay in kind by giving part of their crop or even livestock.

Tithes were used by the Church to support the clergy and help the poor. As the Christian Church spread around Europe, so did the Tithes and it soon turned in to an early form of taxation as in most places it became law.

In England Tithes evolved in to rent charges which were still collected until around 1936 when the Tithes and Rents were abolished and were replaced with newer methods of taxation.

Barns were erected throughout the country to collect and store the Tithes and Rents and many are still standing today. Some are in a ruinous state, but others like the one in Wellingborough are pretty much in their original condition and are still be used today, but not for collecting Tithes or Rent!