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.

Saturday, 6th June 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Feast of Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945 [Commemoration]

Jesus Denounces Pharisees and Lawyers

While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.

Luke 11:37-41, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and, in the power of the divine majesty, to worship the Unity: we beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities; who livest and reignest, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Common Worship

A Collect for the Feast of Ini Kopuria:

Loving God, we bless thy Name for the witness of Ini Kopuria, founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood: Open our eyes that we, with these Anglican brothers, may establish peace and hope in service to others; for the sake of Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

A Great Cloud of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days (The Episcopal Church)

A Prayer for our Candidates who are to Receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Church of St Nicholas this Evening:

Almighty and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins: Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. 

Amen.

The 1662 Book of Common Prayer 

A Prayer for all who are Affected by the Outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda:

Heavenly Father,

You are our healer. You restore the sick and comfort people in their suffering.

We bring before you the Ebola virus outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda. Please be with the local authorities and the World Health Organisation as they seek to respond rapidly and effectively. Give them wisdom as they make decisions, provide them with the resources needed for treatment, and help them contain the spread. Protect health workers from the virus and keep them healthy.

For those who are sick, we ask that you would heal them. Give them access to treatment and skilled medical staff. Comfort them in their pain. For those who are suffering the loss of a loved one, be with them in their grief. Make your love known and provide for their daily needs.

We also pray for the church in the regions of DR Congo and Uganda affected by this outbreak. Please give your people opportunities to share Christ’s love as they help the sick and comfort those who are living in fear of being infected.

Lastly, we ask for peace and stability in the region. End political conflict and put people in power that will govern wisely.

Lord God, we ask all this knowing that you can do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.

In Jesus’ name we pray, 

Amen.

The National Council of Churches in Australia (Adapted from Anglican Aid)

A Prayer for Volunteers' Week, 1st-7th June 2026:

Lord,

We pray for all those who volunteer in your service;

giving grateful thanks for all that they give and do.

Strengthen and sustain all volunteers;

that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people;

We pray also for those churches who struggle to find volunteers;

and where the few are struggling under huge burdens.

Help us remember that we need your help in all things –

may your spirit guide us; may your spirit renew us;

may your spirit strengthen us; so that we will be strong in faith.

Amen. 

The Diocese of Worcester's Prayer Diary 2015

A Prayer in Celebration of Diversity:

Almighty God, through your Holy Spirit you created unity in the midst of diversity;
We acknowledge that human diversity is an expression of your manifold love for your creation;
We confess that in our brokenness as human beings we turn diversity into a source of alienation, injustice, oppression, and wounding.
Empower us to recognize and celebrate differences as your great gift to the human family.
Enable us to be the architects of understanding, of respect and love;
Through the Lord, the ground of all unity, we pray.

Amen.

Author Unknown 

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

June 2026 - Jarrow Deanery

A 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