Investing Synod and church funds

Money, held by Synod and churches, unlikely to be required within five years should be invested. The Trustees consider the risk of investing most carefully accepting the fluctuations in value as inevitable. The risk of investing for one year is considerable, but for more than five years minimal with the diversity of investments.

The system used is a pooled fund now valued at over £4m allowing plenty of scope for diversity. About 800,000 “Association Units” valued currently at about £5 each are bought and sold as required by Synod funds and churches. A 'distribution' is paid every year in December from income received from the investments. The units are valued every quarter.

The value of units over the past five years is shown below. Note the rise in value of the units and the poor year in 2002.

(2001, 387p *).

** Investments of £3,560,000 at the end of January produced a total gain on “paper” of £600,000 for the benefit of Synod and church holders of association units. If bought January and sold in December including the 'distribution'.

How to buy, or sell association units.

Contact the Trust Treasurer (Malcolm Littlefair)
or Book Keeper, (Donna Varley).

1/11/07