A traditional Christian tithe required a person to give one-tenth of income or produce. The word “tithe” comes from an Old English term meaning tenth.
In medieval Europe, tithes commonly supported parish churches and clergy. They could be paid in money, crops, livestock, or other goods, depending on local custom and the source of a person’s income. Agricultural tithes were especially important in rural societies.
Tithing has roots in ancient Israelite religious practice and appears in the Hebrew Bible. Christian institutions later adapted the idea, although rules and enforcement varied greatly between countries and denominations.
A tithe was not always a state tax in the modern sense. In many places it was a religious levy enforced through law, while in other communities it became a voluntary contribution. Modern churches use the term in several different ways.