How the Church of England Invests Its Billions

With its eternal demands for capital and cash flow, the church has been forced to become one of the U.K.'s most forward-thinking investors.
By Cliff D'Arcy
Motley Fool
 2/9/2011

Even for nonbelievers, the Church of England is truly a fascinating institution.

The roots of the church can be traced back to the Roman Empire, but the Protestant establishment we know today has its origins in the much-catalogued marital problems of King Henry VIII (1491-1547).

The ultimate long-term investor

Having been around since the 3rd century AD, the Christian church is a pillar of Britain. Indeed, the CofE still plays a vital role in British life, supporting Christian worship, community life, education, and social and pastoral care.

Despite falling church attendance, a million people visit church each Sunday, and millions more attend churches for weddings and funerals. Also, schooling plays a vital role for the church, with 1 million pupils in CofE schools (which make up 1 in 4 primary and 1 in 16 secondary schools).

Of course, operating on a national scale with such a long-established pedigree doesn't come cheap. In fact, the church supports nearly 20,000 ordained ministers and 1,600 armed forces and prison chaplains, plus countless retired clergy. the rest image