Facilities and features
Accessibility
Permanent ramp installed from main (south) entrance into church. Level access at the external door.
Both St Oswald's Church and St Oswald's Institute are well served by the following local bus services, which stop directly outside the two buildings:
Arriva 6
Arriva X12
Gateshead Central Buses 41
Gateshead Central Buses 42
Arriva 56
Arriva 58
Stagecoach 59
Gateshead Central Buses PR2 (Durham City Park and Ride)
Assistance dogs are welcome.
St Oswald's Institute has recently-installed accessible toilets, but the church does not.
Metered on-street parking outside the church and in Oswald Court and Hallgarth Street nearby.
Large print hymn books and service booklets available.
Available in St Oswald's Institute across the road.
Our Building
Grade II*
Two small mediaeval fragments are incorporated at the west end of the north aisle; Victorian windows tell the story of St Oswald and commemorate John Bacchus Dykes, the hymn tune composer and former Rector; and a 1976 memorial window depicts the Creation story.
There is a toilet in the vestry, and recently-installed accessible toilets with baby-changing facilities in St Oswald's Institute across the road.
Music and Worship
Bells are rung on Sundays before the 11:00am service, and practice is on Monday evenings. Contact the tower captain, Chris Mansfield, through the Durham Bellringers page (link on front page of this site).
For more information follow the Choir and Music link on the front page of this site, or search <Durham Student Music>.
Built by Peter Collins in 1988 to replace a Victorian instrument destroyed by fire, and substantially rebuilt by Nicholsons in 2019. For more information please see the Nicholson & Co site.
Sunday Choral Evensong / Evening Prayer with Hymns at 6:00pm.
Wednesday Holy Communion at 10:00am (or Matins if the Rector is away).
The choir practises on Thursday evenings in church. For more information, please follow the link on the front page.
Groups, Courses and Activities
6th Durham City (St Oswald's) Brownies meet 6:00pm–7:15pm on Mondays (term time) in St Oswald's Institute across the road from the church.
RANGERS meet 7:30-9pm on Mondays 7:30-9:00pm in St Oswald's Institute across the road from the church.
There is a monthly coffee 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙣 at 2:00pm, generally on the second Tuesday of each month, in St Oswald's Institute across the road from the church. All are very welcome.
SCOTTISH DANCING: Wednesday evenings 6pm-9pm
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: Thursday evenings 6:30pm-10:00pm
SHODAI RYU: Friday evenings 7:00pm-10:00pm
SPINNERS & WEAVERS: 1st Saturday each month 10am-4:00pm
PIPSQUEAKS (run by Kings Church) takes place Wednesdays (school term-time), 9.30-11.30am
Pipsqueaks is a lively, friendly gathering of babies and toddlers with their parents and carers.
Rainbows meet on Mondays 5:30-6:30pm in St Oswald's Institute across the road from the church.
Help for Visitors
Weekdays, approximately 09:30–17:00.
Weekdays, approximately 09:30–17:00.
Other Features
Donations received on Sunday morning.
To enquire about hiring the Institute, please contact the Parish Administrator, Jane Walker, on 0191 383 0830 or at [email protected].