Ecclesiastical Insurance : UK churches a ‘significant’ part of local communities, new survey finds

27 April 2017

Half of UK adults back the role of churches

Half of the British public would consider the closure of their nearest church a significant loss to their local community, according to new research released today by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical.

In one of the largest ever surveys of peoples' attitudes towards the role and influence of churches in local communities, more than a third (35%) of UK adults surveyed said that they would campaign to keep their nearest church from closing. Meanwhile, one in three respondents said they would provide financial support if their local church was in financial difficulty.

As the UK's leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings, Ecclesiastical provides insurance for over 15,000 Anglican churches. The company commissioned the research to highlight the important role churches play in local communities outside of religious services and festivals.

Michael Angell, church operations director at Ecclesiastical, commented: 'There have been many surveys conducted in the past founded on questions of church attendance and shifting attitudes to faith and religion. However, what we wanted to focus on was what people today actually think and feel about their local church and its place within their community.

'With the Department for Culture, Media and Sport currently considering the findings of its own survey as part of the English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability Review, our research provides a timely insight into how relevant churches remain today.'

Ecclesiastical's research also revealed that more than half (51%) of the British public think their local church is part of the history of their community, while over a third of people (36%) said it is part of the fabric of their community. The same number also feel their local church provides vital services to their community.

Michael added: 'We know from our own engagement with the church community up and down the country that the value and reach of churches' work is on a scale that would be almost impossible to replace. Churches provide a wide range of community services from holiday clubs and parish nursing to foodbanks and mother and toddler groups, provisions many people rely on day-to-day. This work often goes unnoticed but to the people that use these services it is invaluable.'

***ENDS***

For more information visit our website www.ecclesiastical.com/BIBA2017

For more information contact:

Issued by: Ann-marie Russell External Communications Manager
T: 01452 873231 / 07766 558663
E: [e-mail]

Emma Smith, External Communications Manager
T: 01452 873233/07391 866584
E: [e-mail]

Notes to editors

1. Owned by a registered charity, Allchurches Trust, Ecclesiastical is a unique financial services organisation. With its main operations and headquarters in the UK, Ecclesiastical also operates in Australia, Canada and Ireland.

2. Ecclesiastical is a specialist insurer of the faith, heritage, fine art, charities, education and private client sectors.

3. Founded in 1887 to provide insurance for the Anglican Church, the company now offers a wide range of commercial insurances, as well as home insurance, selling through brokers and directly.

4. The Ecclesiastical Group also includes award-winning investment management business, EdenTree Investment Management, which provides a range of ethically screened investment funds.

5. Ecclesiastical is one of the UK's top five corporate donors to charity in the 2016-17 UK Guide to Company Giving. Other 2016 awards include Better Society Awards, Insurer of the Year and Post Magazine, Claims Awards, Customer Care winner.

6. In 2014, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group launched its vision to donate £50million to charity in a three-year period. In March 2016 the Group announced that it had reached its target almost a year ahead of schedule and that figure now stands at £67m.

7. Many businesses say they are different. Ecclesiastical really is. Find out why at www.ecclesiastical.com/ourstory