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2025-12-31-accounts

Vine Church Wynyard

Annual Report & Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2025

Registered Charity Number: 1193706

Contents

  1. Reference and Administration

  2. Structure, Governance and Management

  3. Objectives and Activities

  4. Chair’s Report

  5. Achievements and Celebrations

  6. Worship and Discipleship

  7. Leadership Development

  8. Ecumenical and Diocesan Relationships

  9. Safeguarding

  10. Risk Management

  11. Financial Review

  12. Reserves Policy and Going Concern

  13. Mission and Evangelism

  14. Plans for the Future

  15. Children and Young People

  16. Pastoral Care and Community Engagement

  17. Statement of Trustee Responsibilities

  18. Accounts and Independent Examiner’s Report

1. Reference and Administration

The full name of the charity is Vine Church Wynyard, registered charity number 1193706.

Vine Church Wynyard is a Bishop’s Mission Order church within the Diocese of Durham and part of the Church of England.

The church meets at: Wynyard Church of England Primary School, Redwood Drive, Wynyard TS22 5UB

Correspondence address: 14 Saville Close, Wynyard TS22 5GL

Trustees

The following served as trustees during the year ended 31 December 2025:

Officers

Independent Examiner

John Elmes FLAM Bowden House, 8a Hunwick Lane Sunnybrow, Crook DL15 0LT

2. Structure, Governance and Management

Vine Church Wynyard has existed legally since August 2020. The church operates under a Bishop’s Mission Order (BMO) within the Diocese of Durham in accordance with Part 7 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011.

During 2025 the Bishop’s Mission Order for Vine Church was renewed for a further three years from 1 August 2025. The renewed BMO reaffirmed the church’s mission to continue developing a worshipping community in Wynyard, grow toward long-term sustainability, and explore future church planting opportunities in the wider region.

The renewed BMO also identified priorities for the next stage of Vine Church’s development, including strengthening local leadership representation within governance structures – a successful focus for 2025 at Vine Church – and undertaking a facilitated review of the church’s ministry and mission to capture the learning in Wynyard.

The church is governed legally by a Board of Trustees, known as the Church Council to reflect its role more clearly within the life of the church and its similarity to a Parochial Church Council structure. The Church Council is responsible for governance, safeguarding oversight, financial stewardship and compliance with Charity Commission requirements.

The Church Council met regularly throughout 2025 and continued to develop governance structures and strengthen local leadership involvement within the life of the church.

Trustees are appointed in accordance with the governing provisions of the Bishop’s Mission Order. During 2025 the church continued seeking to strengthen local representation within governance structures.

New trustees and Church Council members were supported through conversations with existing leaders, safeguarding procedures and ongoing involvement within the life and ministry of the church.

All trustees and volunteers were safely recruited in line with Church of England safeguarding procedures.

The church continued to receive tapered Strategic Development Funding (SDF) during 2025 through the Diocese of Durham. However, the Diocese of Durham was unsuccessful in securing anticipated continuation funding beyond the original Strategic Development Funding period. This required the church to begin restructuring staffing and ministry provision during the second half of the year.

In accordance with the conditions of the renewed BMO, a facilitated review of the ministry and mission of Vine Church was completed in early 2026.

3. Objectives and Activities

The Church Council has responsibility for co-operating with the church leaders in promoting within Wynyard and the surrounding area the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

The trustees are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at Vine Church and become part of the life of the church community.

When planning activities during the year, the Church Council considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the guidance relating to charities for the advancement of religion.

The church seeks to provide public benefit through:

The charity's governing document is the Bishop's Mission Order made under Part 7 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, renewed on 1 August 2025 for a further three years. The Objectives of the Mission Initiative, as set out in the BMO, are to share the Christian faith with people in Wynyard, enabling them to come to faith and develop as disciples; to grow the congregation to the point where the church becomes self-sustaining; and to develop a church planting plan in the wider area, in consultation with the Bishop and in collaboration with the PCCs and clergy of the local parishes.

The Visitor for the Mission Initiative during 2025 was the Venerable Rick Simpson, Archdeacon of Auckland, who was invited to all Church Council meetings and received all papers in accordance with the BMO.

4. Chair’s Report

2025 has been a significant and formative year in the life of Vine Church.

Since launching in 2020, the church has primarily reached people who were previously unchurched, de-churched or new to Christian faith, with the large majority of those who now call Vine Church home either coming to faith or reconnecting with church life during that time.

As a church plant entering a more established phase of church life, this year has involved both encouragement and challenge. We have continued to see people encounter Jesus, grow in discipleship and step into leadership for the first time, while the ending of Strategic Development Funding prompted important conversations around sustainability, governance and local ownership.

Throughout 2025, the Church Council’s priorities were to deepen discipleship and strengthen local leadership. As a Bishop’s Mission Order church, Vine Church has continued seeking to develop forms of church life suited to the specific context of Wynyard and the surrounding area.

The church further developed its evolving ‘gathered and scattered’ rhythm of Celebration Sundays, Vine Groups and Open House gatherings. These were designed intentionally to deepen discipleship, encourage participation, encourage wider participation and leadership, create spaces of hospitality, prayer and openness to the work of the Holy Spirit within the life of the church.

An important area of development during the year has been seeing more local people step into responsibility and leadership. New individuals joined the Church Council, new leaders emerged within Vine Groups and ministry teams, and the Trellis leadership development group began during 2025.

We remain deeply grateful to all those who contribute to the life of Vine Church through prayer, volunteering, financial giving and acts of hospitality and service.

While challenges remain around financial sustainability and leadership capacity, we remain hopeful about the future of Vine Church and believe God continues to call the church to be a vibrant, Spirit-led and intergenerational Christian community rooted in and faithfully serving Wynyard.

Rev Emily Hudghton Chair of the Church Council (Board of Trustees)

5. Achievements and Celebrations

2025 Highlights

6. Worship and Discipleship

Vine Church continues to gather regularly for worship throughout 2025 through its developing rhythm of Celebration Sundays, Vine Groups and Open House gatherings.

Celebration Sundays held in Wynyard Primary School remain the church’s primary gathered worship service and act as an initial point of contact for those exploring faith or attending church for the first time. These services are intentionally designed to be accessible, welcoming and intergenerational, combining worship, biblical teaching, prayer ministry and hospitality.

In 2025, average attendance at Celebration Sundays ranged between 30–50 people.

Alongside these larger gatherings, the church continues to develop smaller discipleshipfocused communities.

Vine Groups meet regularly in homes and focused on prayer, scripture, discipleship, friendship and mutual support. These groups are also increasingly places where new leaders were identified, encouraged and trained.

Currently hosted at the Vicarage, Open House draws on principles associated with Missional Communities and seeks to create spaces of radical hospitality, worship, friendship and invitation.

Together, Celebration Sundays, Vine Groups and Open House form a complementary rhythm of church life balancing gathered worship, discipleship, mission, hospitality and leadership development.

The new rhythm remains a work in progress, but during 2025 encouraging signs included increased lay leadership, deeper relationships, new people stepping into responsibility and several individuals growing in confidence in prayer and discipleship.

The church community remained broadly similar in size to the previous year, with approximately 100 people considering Vine Church their church home.

The church continued to cultivate a culture where people could safely explore questions of faith, encounter Christian community and grow in their gifts and participation within church life.

The church marked the major Christian festivals throughout the year. Easter services and events were attended by approximately 92 people, while Christmas services and events connected with approximately 148 people.

The church also celebrated two baptisms during 2025.

Prayer remained central to church life throughout the year, with a new regular prayer gathering, ‘Seek and Pray’, established to bring the community together in prayer for the life of the church, alongside the prayer which forms a central part of all the different Sunday gatherings.

The church also heard a number of testimonies during the year of answered prayer, renewed faith, healing and individuals growing in confidence spiritually.

Several new individuals and families also became part of the church community during 2025.

7. Mission and Evangelism

Sharing the Christian faith and the love of Jesus Christ continued to remain central to the life of Vine Church.

The church sought to create accessible and welcoming environments where people could explore faith, ask questions, build relationships and encounter Christian community. The church particularly values creating spaces where people can come ‘as they are’ without needing to present a polished or confident version of themselves.

A significant proportion of the church community are either new Christians or adults reconnecting with Christian faith after long periods away from church, and Vine Church’s culture of welcome, openness and participation has been an important part of its witness within Wynyard.

One member of the church community reflected during 2025, ‘It’s a relaxed environment and I feel safe to ask the questions I’ve always had about how Jesus works in my life… The community has helped give me a sense of belonging in a new area.’

Celebration Sundays played a key role in this evangelistic culture, alongside hospitality, discipleship relationships, youth ministry, community events and Open House gatherings.

8. Children and Young People

Children, young people and families remained central to the mission and ministry of Vine Church throughout 2025. Approximately 45% of those who consider Vine Church their church home are children and young people. The church continued to prioritise intergenerational worship and discipleship, believing that children and adults grow best in faith when learning, worshipping and serving alongside one another.

The church maintained a particularly close relationship with Wynyard Church of England Primary School, where Celebration Sundays are held. Rev Emily Hudghton continued contributing regularly to school life through monthly collective worship, school services and curriculum support. She also continued to serve as Deputy Chair of Governors, a post she has held since 2021.

Collective worship included storytelling, prayer, worship, Christian teaching and opportunities for children to engage with the themes of the Christian faith and the church calendar. Through this, the church maintained regular engagement with a school community of more than 400 children.

The church’s youth ministry continued throughout the year with a weekly youth group typically attended by 12–14 young people. The Church Council was encouraged during 2025 by testimonies of answered prayer, healings and young people choosing to follow Jesus for the first time.

The church also experienced significant staff transition during the year. Madison Whaley Wachepa, Children and Families Pastor, accepted redundancy following the ending of Strategic Development Funding, with the redundancy taking effect in January 2026. During Madison’s maternity leave, Monique Garcia provided maternity cover. The Church Council expresses sincere gratitude for the ministry, care and service provided by both Madison and Monique during this season.

Despite the funding and staff challenges, the Church Council remains encouraged by the continued presence of children and young families within the life of the church and sees this as a vital part of Vine Church’s long-term future.

9. Pastoral Care and Community Engagement

Pastoral care remained a significant aspect of church life throughout 2025. Both clergy and lay leaders provided ongoing support to individuals and families experiencing bereavement, ill health, loneliness, family pressures and major life events.

Vine Groups were a key space where members of the church community found friendship, belonging and care. A member of one of our Vine Groups reflected, ‘My Vine Group has been an enormous support, both spiritually and emotionally’ .

The church also continued its monthly ministry within Wynyard Woods Care Home, with attendance typically ranging between 8–20 residents and staff.

The church further fostered links with other community organisations and groups through church members’ involvement in them, such as the Wynyard Residents’ Association, the local Parish Councils, the Wynyard Matters magazine, amongst others.

Many church members also increasingly contributed to practical hospitality, setup and pack down, worship, prayer ministry, administration, safeguarding, hosting and schools ministry. Approximately 20 people volunteered regularly in different ministry areas throughout 2025.

10. Leadership Development

Developing disciples and equipping new leaders remained one of the church’s key priorities throughout 2025.

The Church Council particularly recognised the importance of developing greater local ownership and leadership within the life of the church.

During the year the church launched Trellis, a leadership development and discipleship group focused particularly on developing emerging leaders within the church community.

The group involves eight leaders alongside Rev Emily Hudghton and includes theological discussion, leadership coaching, ministry development and prayer for one another and the wider church. The purpose of Trellis is to help form a culture of forming ‘disciple-making disciples’ and encourage greater confidence in leadership, ministry and spiritual gifting.

The church also saw individuals step into a range of new leadership and governance roles during 2025 – in part accelerated by the challenges faced by the church this year – including:

During 2025 Rev Mark Hudghton also transitioned from stipendiary ministry into a nonstipendiary role following the ending of Strategic Development Funding and although Rev Mark continues to minister within the church in this new capacity, the Church Council nonetheless wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to him for the ministry he has exercised over the last six years.

The Church Council continued working during 2025 to strengthen governance structures and increase local representation within the Church Council. Further work remains necessary in this area, including training, skills development and greater collaborative strategic leadership, but the progress made this year is encouraging.

11. Ecumenical and Diocesan Relationships

The church remained committed to positive ecumenical and diocesan relationships throughout the year.

The church also participated in wider diocesan life during 2025, including the Pentecost celebrations held at Durham Cathedral.

Vine Church continued to maintain ecumenical relationships through involvement in Transforming Teesside Together and through clergy participation in the Teesside Leaders Network.

The church also benefited from ongoing support and connection through the Belfrey Family Network associated with St Michael le Belfrey, York. This relationship provided encouragement, training and grant support for youth ministry through the Sequoia Fund.

The clergy also continued involvement with the wider Diocese of Durham within Clergy Chapter and Deanery Synod structures.

The church values its ongoing relationship with the Diocese of Durham and remains grateful for the support received through the Bishop’s Mission Order and Strategic Development Funding during the church’s formative years.

The Church Council recognises the importance of continued progress toward long-term financial sustainability, including increased regular giving and Parish Share contribution, in order to support the long-term future of stipendiary ministry within Wynyard.

12. Safeguarding

The Church Council takes its safeguarding responsibilities seriously and is committed to the safeguarding, care and protection of all, including children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The church complies with Church of England safeguarding guidance and all relevant volunteers and Church Council members were appropriately DBS checked and trained during 2025.

Beth Miller served as Parish Safeguarding Officer until October 2025, after which Alexandra Fox took on the role.

Safeguarding remains a standing item within Church Council meetings throughout the year.

There were no serious incidents requiring report to the Charity Commission during 2025.

13. Risk Management

The following are areas of focus requiring ongoing oversight and attention, and ways in which they are being addressed:

Approximately 20 volunteers serve regularly across ministry areas. New individuals stepped into Church Council roles, Vine Group leadership, safeguarding, finance, administration and prayer ministry during the year. The Church Council regards the broadening of distributed leadership as a key priority and one of the most encouraging developments of 2025.

The Church Council believes that the continued development of broader volunteer leadership, stronger local governance and careful financial oversight will help mitigate ongoing risks.

14. Financial Review

Total receipts for 2025 were £34,842.82, including £14,262.49 of restricted Strategic Development Fund income.

Planned giving remained stable during the year at £12,161.90.

The church also received a £2,500 grant through the Sequoia Fund associated with the Belfrey Family Network, used for the establishment of a new after-school ministry in Wynyard Primary School.

Total expenditure during 2025 was £40,328.84. This included staff costs, ministry expenditure, church running costs and a Parish Share contribution of £10,858 to the Diocese of Durham, which fulfilled the church’s pledge for the year.

The church recorded a deficit of £5,486.02 during 2025 as reserves were utilised during this period of transition.

Year-end reserves stood at £43,938.34.

During 2025 the charity employed two members of staff: Madison Whaley Wachepa (Children and Families Pastor) and Monique Garcia (maternity cover, from September 2025). No employee received total remuneration exceeding £60,000 during the year. Employment costs are included within SDF funded payments in the accounts.

The stipends of Rev Emily Hudghton and Rev Mark Hudghton (until 31 July 2025) were paid by the Diocese of Durham and are not included within the charity's accounts.

Some expenses were reimbursed to trustees during the year in connection with ministry activities. These amounts are included within the accounts.

The ending of Strategic Development Funding on 31 July 2025 required substantial restructuring during the second half of the year. This included staff reductions and a transition toward a more volunteer-led ministry model.

Although overall giving reduced following the departure of some staff members connected to the funding changes, the Church Council established a new Finance Team during 2025 to help strengthen financial oversight, encourage regular giving and support the church’s longer-term trajectory toward sustainability.

Continued progress in financial sustainability and Parish Share contribution will be important in supporting the long-term future of stipendiary ministry within Wynyard.

15. Reserves Policy and Going Concern

It is Church Council policy to maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately three months of normal operating expenditure. This has historically been around £10,000 but will likely be less than this in future with reduced staff costs and will be recalculated in 2026. The closing reserves of £43,938.34 are well above this.

The Church Council reviewed the reserves policy during the year in light of the ending of Strategic Development Funding and remains satisfied that current reserve levels are appropriate during this period of transition.

During the year no funds were materially in deficit.

Although uncertainty remains regarding long-term financial sustainability, the church remains a going concern, and the Church Council remains encouraged by the growth in local ownership, strengthening governance and financial oversight within the church community, working towards greater sustainability.

The Church Council maintains processes for identifying and managing conflicts of interest where they arise.

16. Plans for the Future

Looking ahead, Vine Church is moving from an initial church planting phase into a more established and maturing stage of church life.

The renewed Bishop’s Mission Order provides an important opportunity to continue developing a sustainable and locally rooted worshipping community within Wynyard.

The Church Council’s priorities moving forward include:

The Church Council hopes that by the end of the renewed Bishop’s Mission Order period Vine Church will demonstrate:

The Church Council remains grateful for all those who contribute prayerfully, financially and practically to the life of the church and wishes particularly to thank the many volunteers who served during 2025.

17. Statement of Trustee Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable charity law.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records sufficient to disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit when exercising their powers and duties.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees (Church Council) by:

Rev Emily Hudghton Chair of the Board of Trustees (Church Council)

18. Accounts and Independent Examiner’s Report

Financial Statements for the year ending 31[st] December 2025.

Receipts and Payments account

2025 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted 2024
RECEIPTS Notes Receipts Receipts Total Receipts
SDF Funding 1 14,262.49 14,262.49 45,574.18
Planned Giving 2 12,161.90 12,161.90 12,245.50
Other Giving 3 3,740.57 3,740.57 8,073.77
Gift Aid Recovered 4 2,177.86 2,177.86 3,799.19
Other receipts 5 50.00
Grant 10 2,500.00 2,500.00
Total Receipts 18,080.33 16,762.49 34,842.82 69,742.64
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted 2024
PAYMENTS Notes Payments Payments Total Payments
SDF funded payments 6 25,236.08 25,236.08 53,297.85
Clergy and Staffing 7 2,866.47 2,866.47 3,191.60
Church Running Costs 8 577.50 577.50 1,959.23
Other Costs 9 330.00 330.00 430.00
Parish Share 11 10,858.00 10,858.00
Overclaimed Payments 12 460.79 460.79
Total Payments 15,092.76 25,236.08 40,328.84 58,878.68
EXCESS RECEIPTS OVER
PAYMENTS -5,486.02
Balance b/f 01.01.2025 49,424.36
Balance c/f 31.12.2025 43,938.34
----- End of picture text -----

Notes

1 - Funding received from the Church of England Strategic Development Fund (SDF) monitored and administered by the Diocese of Durham

6 - Payments claimed against the SDF including staff costs, mission costs and general church running costs

8 - Various costs relating to the running of the church, including mobile WIFI, hire costs, church administration software etc.

9 - Mission costs - Youth Bus hire not claimed against SDF

10 - Grant Received from Sequoia Seed Fund

11 - Parish Share - Contributions to the Central Ministry Fund of Durham Diocese

12 - Overclaimed Payments caused by Quickbooks software invoice duplications, now corrected

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
Responsibilities and
basis of report		 Charity Name
Vine Church Wynyard
31stDecember 2025
Charity no
(if any)
1193706
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31st December 2025.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent ~~[The charity~~ ’ ~~s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to~~ examiner's statement ~~undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]].~~ Delete [ ] if not applicable.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 12/03/26

Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:		 John Elmes
FLAM
Bowden House,
8a Hunwick Lane,
Sunnybrow,
Crook,
Co. Durham
DL15 0LT

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .