Legal Definitions - vicarial tithe

A vicarial tithe refers to a historical form of payment, typically one-tenth of certain types of produce or income, that was specifically allocated to support the local parish priest, known as a vicar. Historically, tithes were mandatory contributions to the church, representing a significant portion of a community's economic output.

Vicarial tithes were generally distinguished from "great tithes," which covered major agricultural products like grain, hay, and wood, and often went to rectors or monastic institutions. Instead, vicarial tithes focused on "small tithes," which included payments derived from personal labor, livestock, dairy products, garden produce, fruit, and other minor agricultural yields or personal earnings. These payments were crucial for the financial sustenance of the vicar and the maintenance of the local parish.

• Example 1: A Medieval Dairy Farmer

  Imagine a dairy farmer in a medieval English village. Each year, she produces milk, butter, and cheese from her small herd of cows. While the "great tithes" on major crops from larger farms might go to a distant monastery, this farmer would be obligated to give one-tenth of her dairy products, perhaps a portion of her butter or cheese, directly to the local vicar. This contribution would be considered a vicarial tithe, supporting the vicar's livelihood and the daily operations of the parish church.

• Example 2: A Village Artisan

  Consider a skilled carpenter living in a historical parish. He doesn't grow large fields of grain, but he earns his living through his craft, building furniture and repairing structures for his neighbors. Historically, even those whose income wasn't directly from major agriculture were expected to contribute. The carpenter might have been required to pay one-tenth of his earnings or the value of his labor to the local vicar. This payment, derived from his personal industry rather than major crops, would fall under the category of a vicarial tithe.

• Example 3: An Orchard Owner

  A landowner possesses a substantial apple orchard and also cultivates a small plot of wheat. The "great tithe" on his wheat harvest would likely be paid to the rector or a larger ecclesiastical body. However, the apples from his orchard, along with any honey from his beehives or eggs from his chickens, would be considered "small tithes." He would be expected to give one-tenth of these specific items directly to the local vicar for his support. This contribution of fruit, honey, and eggs would constitute a vicarial tithe, distinct from the tithe on his grain.