The Vicar of the Parish Receiving His Tithes before 1793

“The Vicar of the Parish Receiving His Tithes” by Henry Singleton, completed before 1793, portrays the Vicar receiving a basket of produce from a farmer’s wife as a form of tithe. Tithes were a form of tax paid to the church, often in the form of agricultural produce. The scene is set in the Vicar’s home, where he is seated at his desk, a book of accounts open before him. This painting captures a moment in the daily lives of people in rural England during the 18th century, offering viewers insight into social norms of the time.