State Church Declines | Hedge Fund Investments Grow

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On average only about 1.5% of the population attended a Church of England church on Sundays in 2010 according to figures released by the state institution. This was a 2% fall from 2009. Over the week as a whole 1.8% attended one of its churches. The National Secular Society estimates that the Anglican Church has 1.2m members in all, out of a UK population of 62m.

As its support has fallen the Church’s investments in hedge funds has more than doubled, according to the Financial Times. This has made it one of the largest investors in such funds, which have been widely criticised.

The money the Anglicans have put into hedge funds has increased from 4% of its investment portfolio to 10% according to the newspaper. The Church was reported to have made “a healthy profit” from these investments.

The Church defended its investments, saying that they met rigorous ethical criteria. Top hedge fund managers’ rewards “typically run into tens of millions” according to the FT.

According to a Yougov poll for the Sunday Times, 65% of Britons believe that the state Church’s bishops are out of touch with public opinion. Only 21% thought the clerics were in touch.

The same poll suggested that a majority of the population believe that archbishops should no longer be entitled to a seat in the legislature. 58% said that the archbishops should lose their seats in the House of Lords. Only 24% thought that the privilege should continue.


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