Canada
Ireland
Financial highlights
Profit before tax increased to £56.3m (H1 2025: £54.5m), reflecting an insurance service result of £47.0m (H1 2025: £37.9m) and an investment result of £52.7m (H1 2025: £60.4m). Investment returns were supported by strong dividend income and equity market gains during the period, although they were lower than the prior period, which also benefited from bond valuation gains.
Gross written premiums (GWP) rose 0.8% to £307.8m (H1 2025: £305.5m). Despite challenging market conditions, the UK delivered growth through new business wins and a high level of retention. This was partly offset by lower than expected premiums in overseas entities.
For general insurance, Ecclesiastical reported a strong underwriting profit of £24.6m (H1 2025: £20.2m) despite the continued challenging markets. This was driven by lower than anticipated weather-related claims activity and a relatively benign large loss environment. Underlying attritional claims experience remained stable, reflecting the quality of the portfolio and disciplined underwriting approach maintained across the Group.
The capital position remains robust, underpinned by Stable ratings from both Moody’s and AM Best in the year. This continued endorsement reinforces Ecclesiastical’s ability to support customers, clients and partners, while safeguarding financial strength.
In respect of H1 performance, a further charitable donation has been made to Benefact Trust of £10m in H2. The donation reflects Ecclesiastical’s continued commitment to supporting charities and communities through its unique purpose-led business model, building on the significant milestone of more than £250m given to good causes.
Key achievements
Ecclesiastical occupies a unique position within the insurance industry, combining a commitment to delivering outstanding, trusted service for customers, particularly when they need to make a claim, with a purpose-led business model that enables its success to support charities and good causes. Against that backdrop, the first half of 2026 was a particularly encouraging period for the business.
Continued recognition for trusted service
Ecclesiastical's commitment to delivering outstanding customer and broker service continues to receive independent recognition.
Ecclesiastical UK retained the Gracechurch Service Quality Marque, underlining the strength of its claims service and its dedication to supporting customers when they need it most.
Ecclesiastical UK home insurance retained its position at the top of Fairer Finance’s Spring rankings, marking an impressive 23rd consecutive number one ranking and securing first place for customer trust, customer happiness and complaints Handling.
Independent customer feedback remained strong during the period, with Ecclesiastical UK maintaining an excellent 4.6 star rating on Trustpilot.
In Canada, Ecclesiastical was recognised as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers, reflecting its commitment to employee wellbeing, flexibility and development.
Disciplined growth through specialist expertise
Ecclesiastical continued to win and retain customers across its core specialist sectors through differentiated products, specialist knowledge and risk management expertise.
The business remains focused on sustainable, profitable growth whilst maintaining underwriting discipline.
Ecclesiastical continues to invest in areas where its specialist expertise delivers significant value to customers, including heritage, charity, education, faith, care and selected commercial sectors.
Supporting customers when it matters most
While overall claims experience was favourable during the first half of the year, Ecclesiastical continued to support customers through a number of significant losses and unexpected events.
Ecclesiastical helped a prominent Grade I listed arts and cultural landmark in central London recover from a significant fire, overseeing the complex reinstatement work as lead insurer.
Ecclesiastical has helped customers recover from subsidence damage following prolonged periods of dry weather, providing specialist support through often complex claims.
These cases demonstrate the importance of specialist claims expertise in helping customers recover from increasingly complex and evolving risks, including weather-related events and emerging technologies.
Celebrating a milestone of giving
Ecclesiastical remains proud to support the Benefact Group's purpose of creating a better tomorrow through business and philanthropy.
During the period, Benefact Group marked the significant milestone of more than £250m given to good causes with a service of celebration at St Paul's Cathedral, recognising the charities, supporters and colleagues who have helped make this impact possible.
The event also reflected gratitude to Benefact Trust, our charitable owner and ultimate shareholder, for its continued support in helping transform lives and communities through charitable giving.
The milestone demonstrates the scale of the Group's contribution to charities and communities and the positive impact created through its unique purpose-led ownership model.
"I am pleased to report a strong performance for Ecclesiastical in the first half of 2026, reflecting the resilience of our business, the strength of our specialist expertise and the continued commitment of our colleagues across the Group.
“We delivered disciplined premium growth during the period, maintaining our focus on sustainable, profitable business while continuing to attract and retain customers across our core specialist markets. Customers and brokers continue to value our differentiated proposition, combining specialist expertise, risk management support and award-winning service.
“For general insurance, we reported a healthy underwriting result. It is important, however, to recognise that this performance was supported by lower than anticipated levels of weather-related claims activity and a relatively benign large loss environment during the first half of the year. While those conditions are welcome, we recognise they can change quickly and we remain mindful of the inherent volatility of the markets we serve. We have benefited from benign weather during the period, and it is important to view these results in that context.
“We insure many of the nation's most cherished buildings and organisations, places that communities value deeply and would be devastated to lose. At a time when customers are facing increasingly complex and evolving risks, from lithium-ion battery fires to extreme weather and climate-related events, our role is to help safeguard what matters most through preventative risk management, specialist expertise and expert claims support when the unexpected happens.
“We continue to win and retain customers across our specialist sectors, including organisations responsible for some of the nation's most treasured historic and cultural assets as well as customers in care, faith, leisure, charity, education and real estate, by focusing on what makes Ecclesiastical different; specialist expertise, trusted advice and award-winning service. We remain committed to growing sustainably in those sectors where our deep technical knowledge and specialist capabilities create genuine value for customers and brokers.
“I am delighted that our commitment to service excellence continues to be recognised through strong customer feedback and independent industry recognition.
“Ecclesiastical gives brokers something more powerful to offer clients: specialist protection, trusted expertise and the chance to place business with an insurer whose success helps support good causes.
“Purpose remains at the heart of everything we do. We are incredibly proud that our success continues to support charities and communities through our unique ownership structure. The significant milestone of more than £250m given to good causes demonstrates how business can be a powerful force for good.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to our colleagues, brokers, customers and partners for their continued support and belief in our mission. Their trust enables us not only to build a successful specialist insurance business, but also to make a meaningful difference to people's lives and communities.
“As we look ahead to the second half of the year, we remain focused on maintaining underwriting discipline, delivering outstanding service, supporting our customers through an evolving risk landscape and growing our business in a sustainable way that enables us to increase our contribution to good causes for years to come.”