The least favourable option of payment of tithe for the tithe owners was without doubt the modus payment. Both Kain and Prince (2000, p.6) and Evans (1976, p.18) quote the following description of the modus payment by Lord Chief Justice Hardwicke in 1747:

"A modus is nothing more than an ancient composition between ... the owners of land in a parish, and the rector, which gains strength with time."

Moduses came in two forms, the parochial modus, which covered a crop or animal over the whole parish, and farm moduses, which replaced the tithe payable on an estate. By 18th century standards these ancient compositions were small in comparison and often contested in court. In some cases no money at all changed hands. In Anglesey the minister had a dinner every alternative Sunday and a feed of corn for his horse. On the other Sunday, lunch for horse and rider was provided by another farm. If contested, a modus initially had to be traced back to 1189 to stand up in court. Progressively it became more difficult to overturn a modus. A modus was seen as established in the 19th century if it could be traced back as far as reasonably possible.