Church of England fund makes 4.1% return on investments

The Church Commissioners for England, which manages the Church of England’s endowment fund, achieved a 4.1% return on its investments in 2023. The fund, which enjoyed a 15th year of positive returns, was valued at £10.4bn at the end of the year. During 2023, it paid £120.6m in pensions and made £223m of charitable expenditure, up by 19.4% from £186.8m in 2022. More than two-thirds of that sum went towards supporting dioceses and local churches. The in-perpetuity endowment fund delivers long-term financial support for the Church’s ministry, contributing around 20% of the total annual running costs of the Church of England.  The Church Commissioners has provided the Church with more than £3.5bn in funding since 2009, with £1.2bn to be distributed between 2023 and 2025. This marks a 30% increase on the previous three-year period. First church estates commissioner Alan Smith said: “Managing the endowment fund in a way that generates sustainable funding to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England, now and for the long term, is our core purpose – and 2023 was another successful year with that in mind.”  Photo © Richard Saker/Shutterstock