Tithe Act 1832

[1.] What prescriptions and claims of modus decimandi to be valid in law. Proviso. E+W

All prescriptions and claims of or for any modus decimandi, or of or to any exemption from or discharge of tithes, by composition real or otherwise, shall in cases where the render of tithes in kind shall be hereafter demanded by our said Lord the King, or by any Duke of Cornwall, or by any lay person, not being a corporation sole, or by any body corporate of many, whether temporal or spiritual, be sustained and be deemed good and valid in law, upon evidence showing, in cases of claim of a modus decimandi, the payment or render of such modus, and in cases of claim to exemption or discharge showing the enjoyment of the land, without payment or render of tithes, money, or other matter in lieu thereof, for the full period of thirty years next before the time of such demand, unless, in the case of claim of a modus decimandi, the actual payment or render of tithes in kind, or of money or other thing differing in amount, quality, or quantity from the modus claimed, or, in case of claim to exemption or discharge, the render or payment of tithes, or of money or other matter in lieu thereof, shall be shown to have taken place at some time prior to such thirty years, or it shall be proved that such payment or render of modus was made or enjoyment had by some consent or agreement expressly made or given for that purpose by deed or writing; and if such proof in support of the claim shall be extended to the full period of sixty years next before the time of such demand, in such cases the claim shall be deemed absolute and indefeasible, unless it shall be proved that such payment or render of modus was made or enjoyment had by some consent or agreement expressly made or given for that purpose by deed or writing; and where the render of tithes in kind shall be demanded by any archbishop, bishop, dean, prebendary, parson, vicar, master of hospital, or other corporation sole, whether spiritual or temporal, then every such prescription or claim shall be valid and indefeasible, upon evidence showing such payment or render of modus made or enjoyment had, as is herein-before mentioned, applicable to the nature of the claim, for and during the whole time that two persons in succession shall have held the office or benefice in respect whereof such render of tithes in kind shall be claimed, and for not less than three years after the appointment and institution or induction of a third person thereto: Provided always, that if the whole time of the holding of such two persons shall be less than sixty years, then it shall be necessary to show such payment or render of modus made or enjoyment had (as the case may be), not only during the whole of such time, but also during such further number of years, either before or after such time, or partly before and partly after, as shall with such time be sufficient to make up the full period of sixty years, and also for and during the further period of three years after the appointment and institution or induction of a third person to the same office or benefice, unless it shall be proved that such payment or render of modus was made or enjoyment had by some consent or agreement expressly made or given for that purpose by deed or writing.