Church of England Pensions Board publishes 2016 Annual Report and Accounts

The Board provides retirement services set by the Church of England for those who have served or worked for the Church. In total, the Board assists some 38,000 people, including more than 10,000 retired clergy, over 3,000 retired "Church Workers" who were employed at some cathedrals, diocesan and parish offices and other agencies, and over 800 retired staff of the National Church Institutions. It also provides housing for retired clergy and their dependents.

The total return for all pension assets in 2016 was 21.2%. This was the strongest return overall for the Board's pension scheme assets since performance records began in 2003.

Talking about investing the funds in an ethical manner, Dr Jonathan Spencer, Chairman of the Pensions Board, said: "We played a key role in the development of the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) - a join initiative by the National Investing Bodies of the Church of England and the Environment Agency Pension Fund.

"The TPI enables us, and others, to make informed judgements about how companies with the biggest impact on climate change are adapting their business models to prepare for the transition to a low carbon economy. Its development was a significant international intervention by the Church investors, and attracted the support of other asset owners and funds that together have over £2 trillion in assets under management. We will be using the TPI analysis to engage with companies.

"This initiative delivers on the commitments we made, in our climate change policy, to play our part in supporting the transition to a low carbon economy.

"On the pensions front, the Board concluded the valuation for the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme, which provides pensions and associated benefits for clergy and others in stipendiary ministry. There was no change in the contribution rate payable by the Responsible Bodies.