Our Next Event 14/11/2023

ABOUT THE PAPER

This paper begins in the 1620s and looks backwards to the early 12th century. Its central contention is that the 17thg-century reform of the system by which ministers' stipends were paid through teinds (a 10% tax on agricultural produce), into one in which all heritable landholders contributed proportionately was less revolutionary than we might think. Far from tearing up an old system and replacing it with something innovative, it largely formalised a system that had been the default for generations. Indeed, the paper will suggest that it is likely that most of the resource that comprised the teinds had remained in landlords' hands, ever since the foundation of the parish system in the 12th century.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Born and brought up on Skye, Dr. MacDonald now lives in north-east Fife. He studied at Edinburgh and has worked at the Universities of St Andrews (1995-2000) and Dundee (2000 to present). Dr. MacDonald specialises in early modern Scotland, and has worked on its political, ecclesiastical and environmental history. His current research focus is on agriculture and sustainability.

VENUE DETAILS