Congregational and General takes stake in insurer

Congregational, based in Bradford, has bought a share in David Edwards Insurance Brokers, based in Solihull.

Carlo Cavaliere, chief executive of Congregational said: “An increasing number of churches are recognising the benefits of buying insurance through a specialist intermediary and Congregational’s investment in David Edwards forms part of our strategy to proactively respond to the changing dynamics of our niche market.

“Both organisations have enjoyed a close and successful trading relationship for many years and we are culturally very similar. We are delighted to extend the nature of our relationship, and although the investment will not in any way alter the independence of David Edwards Insurance Brokers, it will result in much greater benefits for the church market going forward.”

David Edwards said “The insurance needs of churches can be complex, and our independent expertise, together with access to various specialist insurers, has resulted in many churches benefiting from our services. The investment from Congregational will enable us to enhance our current offering and extend this to a much wider section of the church market.”

Congregational was founded by the Reverend Samuel Antliff, pastor of Ramsden Street Congregational Church in Huddersfield, as the Congregational Fire Insurance Company in 1891.

Today it is a large insurer covering more than £40bn of household assets and almost £5bn of church assets in the UK.

It is wholly-owned by a charitable trust, which has distributed more than £6m to churches and other good causes.