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, 22nd February 2026 - Lenten Season: The First Sunday of Lent

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

(Matthew 4:1-4, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

Preacher and Celebrant:
The Reverend Canon Gavin Wort - Lead Chaplain of Durham University

Setting:
Mathias: Communion Service

Readings:
Genesis 2:15-17
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11

Hymns:
101
324
97
533

Psalms:
32

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intention for the Day:

The Church of Ireland: The Most Reverend John McDowell

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

Hospital Chaplains: County Durham and Darlington - The Reverend Norma Clee and Joanne Nicholson; Sunderland - The Reverend Canon Remi Omole; Sherburn - Vacant; Gateshead and North Tees and Hartlepool - The Reverend Gareth Rowlands and The Reverend Joan Urwin; South Tyneside - The Reverend Pat Bealing and The Reverend Gordon Tough; Tees, Esk and Wear Valley - The Reverend Canon Colin Jay, The Reverend Debbie Baker and The Reverend Christine Britcliffe

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Monthly Deanery Intention:

February 2026: Hartlepool Deanery

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; 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 God, you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven; by it you nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love: teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (2000). SP = Sing Praise: Hymns and Songs for Refreshing Worship (2010).***

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A prayerful and reflective service from the Book of Common Prayer. Roughly every other Sunday in term time, a full choral evensong is held.

All are very welcome.

Sunday, 22nd February 2026 - Lententide: The First Sunday in Lent

Evening Prayer with Hymns

Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers.

To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.

(Deuteronomy 6:16-19, King James Version)

Hymns:
96 (t.ii)
517

***Please see the 'Parish Eucharist' page for the Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle intentions for the day, along with the Deanery for the month, and the Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle intentions for the day.***

The Collect of the Day:

O Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (2000).***

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A prayerful, reflective service from the Book of Common Prayer, held in the chancel.

Tea, coffee and chat afterwards in the vestry.

All are very welcome.

Wednesday, 25th February 2026 - Lententide

Midweek Holy Communion

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

(Galatians 4:28-5:1, King James Version)

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intention for the Day:

The Diocese of West Texas (The Episcopal Church): The Right Reverend David Read

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

Vocations Development Support Officer: Pam Wilson

Durham Lesotho Link CEOs: The Reverend Doctor Joseph Morenammele and Lee Musson

St Anthony’s Priory: The Reverend Doctor Nicholas Buxton, Ruth Grant, Laurence Pinkney, Scholastica Jacob, Sheila Shearer and Gavin Harper

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Monthly Deanery Intention:

February 2026 - Hartlepool Deanery

The Collect of the Day:

O Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

O Lord our God, who hast renewed us with the living bread from heaven, and dost thereby nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love: incline our hearts always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and give us grace to live by every word that proceedeth out of thy mouth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A short time of reflection, designed to be a benefit for parents dropping off children at the school, with a concluding prayer and coffee. All are very welcome.

Please click on the attachment below for further information.

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As part of Durham Vocal Festival 2026, Voices of Hope are collaborating with Northern Spirit Singers to perform Johannes Brahms: Schicksalslied and Liebeslieder and Frank Martin: Mass for Double Choir.

Tickets are available by clicking on 'MORE INFO' below.

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A monthly event which usually takes place on the second Tuesday of the month. Pop in for tea, coffee and a chat.

Free entry; all are very welcome.

***Proceeds from February's Coffee Afternoon will go to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS); futher details about this charity can be found by clicking 'MORE INFO' below.***

Durham University Palatinate Orchestra's Palatinate Ensemble presents Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Please click on 'MORE INFO' below for further details and to book tickets.

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Durham University Classical Ensemble presents Beethoven's Fourth Symphony.

Please click on 'MORE INFO' below for further details and to book tickets.

We join our friends at Durham Cathedral for a special celebratory Choral Evensong and Procession to the Feretory to mark the Feast of St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, who is often regarded as the Patron Saint of Durham and the North of England.

This event is particularly significant for our Parish, as King Oswald of Northumbria's head is buried with Cuthbert in Cuthbert's tomb, which is located in the Shrine at the Cathedral.

This service begins in the half-light with candles and incense and the great replica of the Lindisfarne Gospels, and ends with a procession by the whole congregation to the Shrine of St Cuthbert in the Feretory. Everyone is very welcome.

Drinks in the Cathedral will follow the service, to which all are also warmly invited.

Choir:
Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers with the Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars and Junior Consort

Guest Preacher:
Rhidian Brook – Novelist, Screenwriter and Broadcaster

A Pilgrimage Walk from Chester-le-Street to Durham via Finchale Priory, as part of Durham Cathedral's St Cuthbert celebrations.

Pilgrims are invited to gather at St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church Parish Centre, Chester-le-Street for refreshments from 9:00am, ahead of a short service of Morning Prayer at 9:30am, prior to departing at 10:00am.

Walking pilgrims are also welcome to join later at Finchale Priory, during the lunch break from 12:30pm, before the group departs for Durham at 1:00pm.

Arrival at the Cathedral will be in good time for a special celebration of the Eucharist at 4:00pm.

Travel: You can get to Chester-le-Street by train (a 15-minute journey from Durham) or by local bus; Arriva service X12 from St Mary's - Coxhoe, the Seven Stars Inn near St Mary's - Shincliffe, and St Oswald's - Durham or Go North East service 21, X21 or 50 from Durham Bus Station. A bus transporting people to Finchale Priory will leave Durham, County Hall at 12:15pm (with free car parking that day). The bus to Finchale costs £7.00 per person. You can book the bus to Finchale Priory or sign up for the walk from Chester-le-Street by clicking on 'MORE INFO' below.

This is a very special experience where people from across the UK who come to Durham for this walk and service are welcomed. Come on your own or with friends and enjoy a very moving journey walking in the steps of the saints.

All are very welcome.

A Festal Eucharist will be held at Durham Cathedral in honour of St Cuthbert. The Bishop of Jarrow will preside and the preacher will be The Very Reverend Doctor Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham.

The service will also provide those in attendance with an opportunity to bid farewell to Bishop Sarah as she leaves Durham to become Bishop of Ely.

The service will be sung jointly by Durham and Newcastle Cathedral Choirs. The setting will be Kodaly Missa Brevis and the anthem will be Dupré Tantum ergo.

All congregational seating is unreserved and the service will last about one hour.

All are very welcome.