Tithe War
Encyclopedia
The Tithe War was a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience, punctuated by sporadic violent episodes, in Ireland
between 1830-36 in reaction to the enforcement of Tithes on subsistence farmers and others for the upkeep of the established state church - the Church of Ireland
. Tithes were payable in cash or kind and payment was compulsory, irrespective of an individual's religious adherence.
, the assets of the Church were appropriated by the British Crown and allocated to the new state Church. The majority who remained loyal to the old religion were then obliged to make tithe payments which were directed away from their local Roman Catholic parish
to the established state church. This increased the financial burden upon subsistence farmers as they were, at the same time, voluntarily supporting the construction or purchase of new premises to replace in some measure the appropriated Church assets. The new state church was not supported by the majority of the population, seventy five percent of whom continued to adhere to Roman Catholicism.
Emancipation for Catholics was a core promise during the campaign for implementation of the Act of Union
in 1801. The King however, refused to keep Pitt (the younger)
's promises which had secured the passage of the legislation through the Irish Parliament. Not until 1829 did the Wellington
government finally succeed in passing the Catholic Emancipation Act in the teeth of defiant royal opposition. However, the obligation to pay tithes remained, causing much resentment. Roman Catholic clerical establishments in Ireland had refused government offers of tithe sharing with the established church, fearing U.K. government regulation and control.
The tithe burden lay directly on the shoulders of tenant farmers. More often than not, tithes were paid in the form of produce or livestock. In 1830, given the system of benefices in the Anglican
system, almost half the clergy were not resident in their assigned rectories and parishes. These issues, more often than not, were inflamed by the senior Irish Roman Catholic clergy who were now dependent on voluntary contributions due to the discontinuation of the Maynooth grant
. Incensed farmers vehemently resisted paying for the support of two clerical establishments. Aided and abetted by many of the Roman Catholic bishops and clergy, they began a campaign of non-payment.
After Emancipation, an organized campaign of resistance to collection began. It was sufficiently successful to have a serious financial effect on the welfare of established church clergy. In 1831 the government compiled lists of defaulters and issued collection orders for the seizure of goods and chattels (mostly stock). Spasmodic violence broke out in various parts of Ireland , particularly in counties Kilkenny
, Tipperary
and Wexford
. The Irish Constabulary, established in 1822, attempted to enforce the orders of seizures. At markets and fairs, the constabulary often seized stock and produce which oftentimes resulted in violent resistance.
, County Kilkenny when a force of 120 yeomanry
tried to enforce seizure orders on cattle belonging to a Roman Catholic priest. Encouraged by his bishop, he had organised people to resist tithe collection by placing their stock under his ownership prior to sale. The revolt soon spread. Shortly afterward, in Bunclody
(Newtownbarry), County Wexford, people resisting the seizure of cattle were fired upon by the Irish Constabulary who killed twelve and wounded twenty. This massacre caused objectors to organise and use warnings such as church bells to signal the community to round up the cattle and stock. On 14 December 1831, resisters used such warnings to ambush a detachment of 40 Constabulary at Carrickshock
(County Kilkenny). Twelve constables, including the Chief Constable, were killed and more wounded.
The authorities reinforced selected army barracks fearing an escalation. Taking stock of the continuing resistance, in 1831 the authorities recorded 242 homicides, 1,179 robberies, 401 burglaries, 568 burnings, 280 cases of cattle-maiming, 161 assaults, 203 riots and 723 attacks on property directly attributed to seizure order enforcement. In 1832 the president of Carlow College was imprisoned for not paying tithes.
In 1835 the conflict came to a head at Rathcormac, County Cork
, when armed Constabulary, reinforced by the regular British Army
reportedly killed 17 and wounded 30, in the course of enforcing a tithe order reputedly to the value of 40 shillings.
The conflict had the support of the Roman Catholic clergy and the following quotation, from a letter written by the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
, Dr. James Doyle to Thomas Spring Rice became the rallying cry for the movement:
In 1839 parliament introduced the Tithe Commutation Act. This reduced the amount payable directly by about a quarter and made the remainder payable in rent to landlord
s. They in turn were to pass payment to the authorities. Tithes were thus effectively added to a tenant's rent payment. This partial relief and elimination of the confrontational collections ended the violent aspect of the War.
Full relief from the oppressive tax was not achieved until the Irish Church Act 1869, which disestablished the Church of Ireland, by the Gladstone
government in 1869.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
between 1830-36 in reaction to the enforcement of Tithes on subsistence farmers and others for the upkeep of the established state church - the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. Tithes were payable in cash or kind and payment was compulsory, irrespective of an individual's religious adherence.
Background
Tithe payment was an obligation on those working the land to pay ten per cent of the value of certain types of agricultural produce for the upkeep of the clergy and maintenance of the assets of the Church. After the Reformation in IrelandReformation in Ireland
The Reformation in Ireland was a movement for the reform of religious life and institutions that was introduced into Ireland by the English administration at the behest of King Henry VIII of England. His desire for an annulment of his marriage was known as the King's Great Matter...
, the assets of the Church were appropriated by the British Crown and allocated to the new state Church. The majority who remained loyal to the old religion were then obliged to make tithe payments which were directed away from their local Roman Catholic parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
to the established state church. This increased the financial burden upon subsistence farmers as they were, at the same time, voluntarily supporting the construction or purchase of new premises to replace in some measure the appropriated Church assets. The new state church was not supported by the majority of the population, seventy five percent of whom continued to adhere to Roman Catholicism.
Emancipation for Catholics was a core promise during the campaign for implementation of the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
in 1801. The King however, refused to keep Pitt (the younger)
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
's promises which had secured the passage of the legislation through the Irish Parliament. Not until 1829 did the Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
government finally succeed in passing the Catholic Emancipation Act in the teeth of defiant royal opposition. However, the obligation to pay tithes remained, causing much resentment. Roman Catholic clerical establishments in Ireland had refused government offers of tithe sharing with the established church, fearing U.K. government regulation and control.
The tithe burden lay directly on the shoulders of tenant farmers. More often than not, tithes were paid in the form of produce or livestock. In 1830, given the system of benefices in the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
system, almost half the clergy were not resident in their assigned rectories and parishes. These issues, more often than not, were inflamed by the senior Irish Roman Catholic clergy who were now dependent on voluntary contributions due to the discontinuation of the Maynooth grant
Maynooth Grant
The Maynooth Grant was a major British political controversy of the 1840s which arose partly due to the general anti-Irish and anti-Catholic feelings of the British population....
. Incensed farmers vehemently resisted paying for the support of two clerical establishments. Aided and abetted by many of the Roman Catholic bishops and clergy, they began a campaign of non-payment.
After Emancipation, an organized campaign of resistance to collection began. It was sufficiently successful to have a serious financial effect on the welfare of established church clergy. In 1831 the government compiled lists of defaulters and issued collection orders for the seizure of goods and chattels (mostly stock). Spasmodic violence broke out in various parts of Ireland , particularly in counties Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
and Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. The Irish Constabulary, established in 1822, attempted to enforce the orders of seizures. At markets and fairs, the constabulary often seized stock and produce which oftentimes resulted in violent resistance.
The "War" 1831-36
The first clash of the Tithe War took place on 3 March 1831 in GraiguenamanaghGraiguenamanagh
-Recreation:Walking and hillclimbing are among the more popular pursuits of Graiguenamanagh area and with the South Leinster Way meandering through the lovely Barrrow Valley and traversing nearby Brandon Hill, scope is provided for the a gentle stroll or a vigorous,day-long hike. The Barrow's...
, County Kilkenny when a force of 120 yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
tried to enforce seizure orders on cattle belonging to a Roman Catholic priest. Encouraged by his bishop, he had organised people to resist tithe collection by placing their stock under his ownership prior to sale. The revolt soon spread. Shortly afterward, in Bunclody
Bunclody
Bunclody is a small town located on the River Slaney, on the border between counties Wexford and Carlow, Ireland. The R746 regional road intersects the N80 in the centre of the town. It is a picturesque town near the foot of Mount Leinster. Most of the town is situated in County Wexford...
(Newtownbarry), County Wexford, people resisting the seizure of cattle were fired upon by the Irish Constabulary who killed twelve and wounded twenty. This massacre caused objectors to organise and use warnings such as church bells to signal the community to round up the cattle and stock. On 14 December 1831, resisters used such warnings to ambush a detachment of 40 Constabulary at Carrickshock
The Carrickshock Incident
The Carrickshock Incident refers to the attack that took place on the 14 December 1831 at a place called Carrickshock in County Kilkenny, Ireland when a crowd of locals attacked a tithe collector and a detachment of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were escorting him...
(County Kilkenny). Twelve constables, including the Chief Constable, were killed and more wounded.
The authorities reinforced selected army barracks fearing an escalation. Taking stock of the continuing resistance, in 1831 the authorities recorded 242 homicides, 1,179 robberies, 401 burglaries, 568 burnings, 280 cases of cattle-maiming, 161 assaults, 203 riots and 723 attacks on property directly attributed to seizure order enforcement. In 1832 the president of Carlow College was imprisoned for not paying tithes.
In 1835 the conflict came to a head at Rathcormac, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, when armed Constabulary, reinforced by the regular British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
reportedly killed 17 and wounded 30, in the course of enforcing a tithe order reputedly to the value of 40 shillings.
The conflict had the support of the Roman Catholic clergy and the following quotation, from a letter written by the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, one of the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Dublin. The episcopal title takes its name from the towns of Kildare and Old Leighlin in the province of Leinster, Ireland.The see is...
, Dr. James Doyle to Thomas Spring Rice became the rallying cry for the movement:
"There are many noble traits in the Irish character, mixed with failings which have always raised obstacles to their own well-being; but an innate love of justice, and an indomitable hatred of oppression, is like a gem upon the front of our nation which no darkness can obscure. To this fine quality I trace their hatred of tithes; may it be as lasting as their love of justice!"
Outcome
The U.K. government was alarmed by several aspects of this massacre. The order to fire was reportedly given by a clergyman. Many people were killed to collect a pittance. Ordinary people withstood several volleys and at least one charge by the troops. Finding and collecting livestock chattels and the associated mayhem created public outrage and proved an increasing strain on police relations. The government suspended collections. One official lamented that “it cost a shilling to collect tuppence”.In 1839 parliament introduced the Tithe Commutation Act. This reduced the amount payable directly by about a quarter and made the remainder payable in rent to landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
s. They in turn were to pass payment to the authorities. Tithes were thus effectively added to a tenant's rent payment. This partial relief and elimination of the confrontational collections ended the violent aspect of the War.
Full relief from the oppressive tax was not achieved until the Irish Church Act 1869, which disestablished the Church of Ireland, by the Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
government in 1869.