We are a Church of England parish with a strong tradition of music in worship, where all are very welcome. As an ancient Church in the centre of Durham, St Oswald's is a reservoir of peace for all who enter it.

The Sunday Eucharist is at 11:00am, and we have a play and books corner by the font for any younger worshipper who feels a parent or carer would enjoy it there. Evensong is at 6:00pm on Sundays, either in the chancel, or roughly every other week during term time when the usual hymns expand to a full choral setting, in the body of the church. Midweek Holy Communion is at 10:00am on Wednesdays, and the church is usually open from 9:30am till round about 5:00pm (or dusk, if earlier) on weekdays.

Tuesday, 17th March 2026 - Lenten Season: The Lesser Festival of St Patrick, Bishop, Missionary and Patron of Ireland, c.460

For when every commandment had been told to all the people by Moses in accordance with the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.’ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:19-22, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, who in thy providence chose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the people of Ireland: keep alive in us the fire of faith which he kindled, and in this our earthly pilgrimage strengthen us to gain the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Common Worship 

I Bind Unto Myself Today, v.3:

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

Attributed to St Patrick 372–466, tr. Cecil Frances Alexander 1818–1895, Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern 2000, #203

A Prayer for Peace Throughout the World:

Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed; Kindle, we pray thee, in every heart the true love of peace; and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity thy kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer 2004 (The Church of Ireland)

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Monthly Deanery Intention - March 2026:

Lanchester Deanery

A Prayer for Lententide:

Hanging as a vine upon the Wood,
O Christ our Saviour,
Thou hast made the ends of the earth
to drink from the wine of incorruption.
Therefore do I cry aloud:
I am darkened always by the hateful drunkenness of sin;
Give me to drink from the sweet wine of true compunction,
and grant me now the strength, O Saviour,
to fast from sensual pleasures,
for Thou art good and lovest mankind.

Amen.

St Joseph of Thessalonica, The Lenten Triodion - The Eastern Orthodox Church 

A Lenten Sonnet:

That we might come at last to his true light
We turn again to him, when all things turn;
The year returns to growth and spring. Our sight
Is blessed with tender green. We learn
To hold the gospel plough, to follow him
And not look back. Our Lenten discipline
Opens deep furrows in the frozen soul
And sheers through the obstruction of our sin,
Harrows our hearts and opens us to him,
Till Christ the Sower finds in us good soil.
Seeds of his kingdom deep in our dark clay
Will stir with hidden growth through Holy Lent,
Will share with him Good Friday’s dark descent
And rise to life with him on Easter Day.

Malcolm Guite

The Prayer of St Oswald of Northumbria:

Let us together implore the living and true and almighty God in his mercy to defend us against the pride and fierceness of our enemy; for that God knows our cause is just, and that we fight for the salvation of our nation.

Amen.

Prayed by King Oswald with his Army on the Battlefield on the Eve of the Battle of Heavenfield, AD634