St Oswald's, Durham

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 11am, 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 6pm 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 10am on Wednesdays, and the church is usually open from 9:30am till round about 5pm (or dusk, if earlier) on weekdays.

The latest editions of the weekly news-sheet and music notes are in the 'News' tab, and please ask if you'd like to join the mailing list. Here are links to bell ringing and choir and concert info. We have a strong connection with St Oswald's Primary and Nursery School, and with our neighbouring parishes within the Benefice of The Three Saints; St Mary's Shincliffe, St Mary's Coxhoe and St Helen's Kelloe.

Wednesday, 7th January 2026 - Epiphany Season

And you shall say: The Lord our God is in the right, but there is open shame on us today, on the people of Judah, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on our kings, our rulers, our priests, our prophets, and our ancestors, because we have sinned before the Lord. We have disobeyed him, and have not heeded the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the statutes of the Lord that he set before us.

Baruch 1:15-18, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

The Collect of the Day:

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

A Prayer for the Unity of the Church:

God of all, we pray as one, that we may be one, just as the Lord Jesus prayed we may be one in Him. Your son Jesus compels us to be reconciled to one another. May our spirits be joined to Your Holy Spirit, that we may witness to the visible unity of your Church. May we all recognize that we are truly one with You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and grow together in peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. 

Amen.

Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute - Part of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Garrison, New York, US

Durham Diocesan Deanery Monthly Prayer Intention - January 2026:

Easington Deanery

A Prayer for the Season of Epiphany:

Almighty and eternal God,
Brightness of faithful souls,
you brought the Gentiles to your light,
and made known to them him who is the true Light,
and the bright and morning Star.
Fill the world with your glory,
and show yourself by the radiance of your light to all nations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Prayers through the Centuries: A Revision of Prayers of the Early Church and Prayers of the Middle Ages, Paul C Stratman (Originally Edited by James Manning Potts)








Get in touch

Revd. Peter Kashouris

St. Oswald's Vicarage,
Church Street

DH1 3DG
Vicarage
0191 374 1681
Parish Office
0191 383 0830
What's on

Parish Eucharist

Occurring
Every Sunday at for 1 hour, 15 mins
Break
Please note that this event will not be taking place on the following dates: 18 Jan 2026
Venue
St Oswald's, Durham
Address
Church Street Durham, DH1 3DQ, United Kingdom

The worshipping heart of parish life; a service from Common Worship including Holy Communion with refreshments afterwards in the Institute across the road.

All are very welcome.

Sunday, 11th January 2026 - Epiphany Season: The Baptism of Christ

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

(Matthew 3:16-End, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

Readings:
Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-End

The Collect of the Day:

Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer Intentions for the Day from the Diocesan Monthly Prayer Cycle:

Bishops -
Bishops: Sarah; Assistant Bishops: John, David, Stephen, Rob and Frank

Anglican Communion -
Iglesia Region Central de America: Most Revd David Alvarado Melgar

Deanery Prayer Intention for January 2026 -
Easington Deanery

When Jesus came to Jordan
to be baptized by John,
he did not come for pardon,
but as his Father's Son.
He came to share repentance
with all who mourn their sins,
to speak the vital sentence
with which good news begins.

(When Jesus Came to Jordan, F. Pratt Green 1903–2000, Text © 1980 Stainer & Bell Ltd. Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, #93, Verse 1)

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Further musical information for January 2026 to be announced.***

The Morning Service at St Oswald's on the Second Sunday of Epiphany, (18th January 2026) will be a special Covenant Service where we will be joined by our friends from Elvet Methodist Church.

St_ Oswald's The Calendar-5.docx
Diocese of Goma-1.docx

Upcoming services, parish news.

Safeguarding

The parish of St. Oswald's, Durham is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults.

Please click through to our safeguarding page for more information.

St. Oswald's safeguarding page

St Oswald's, Durham Charity No. 1196296