Harvest

The Christian tradition of giving at harvestime goes right back to Bible times. The Jews would give a tenth of the harvest to God. This was known as a tythe or tithe. (See The Bible, Leviticus chapter 27 verse 30).

In this country farmers had to give a tithe of everything that came from the ground. Tithes were payments in kind (crops, wool, milk etc.) which were an agreed proportion of the yearly profits of cultivation or farming. They were given by parishioners for the support of their parish church and its clergy. Grain was stored in huge tithe barns, many of which can still be seen today. This law was scrapped by the Tithe Act in 1936. However, many Christians still choose to give some of their income to the church throughout the year - for some, a tenth of the money they earn. At harvest-time giving food reminds us that God has provided for our needs throughout another year.