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.

Friday, 2nd January 2026 - Christmas Season: The Lesser Festival of St Basil the Great and St Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389; The Commemoration of St Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide, 1833; The Commemoration of Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945

But Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!’

Ruth 1:16-17, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition.

The Collect of the Day:

Lord God, whose servants Basil and Gregory
proclaimed the mystery of your Word made flesh, to build up your Church in wisdom and strength: grant that we may rejoice in his presence among us, and so be brought with them to know the power of your unending love; 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.

Common Worship.

You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of one who gives and kindles joy in the heart of one who receives.

St Seraphim of Sarov.

The religion of Christ refuses to be confined to any one race, class, or caste. It seeks to embrace all. It is most true to itself when it refuses to be restricted by human fear or prejudice.

Bishop Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah. 

A Prayer for Peace and Justice in the World:

Lord, help us to lead our world in the ways of justice and peace.
Help us to be at peace with ourselves,
our families, friends and neighbours.
May peace not conflict arise from our hearts wherever we go.
Help us to be active peacemakers -
to bring peace into the world by whatever means we are able.
Help us never to stand back and watch people suffer,
but to look for solutions in the smallest and the largest situations.
May our peace be a sign of strength and not of weakness,
that others may follow peace with peace.

Amen.

Fleur Dorrell, Mothers' Union.

A Prayer for the Christmas Season:

God of the waiting and the watching ones we praise you that you sent your Son to meet us.

God of the frightened and the lonely ones we praise you that you sent your Son to calm and surround us.

God of the oppressed and marginalized ones we praise you that you sent your Son to liberate and include us.

God of the bereaved and hurting ones we praise you that you sent your Son to comfort and heal us.

This Christmas fill our hearts with your love, that like Mary and Joseph we would be willing to take risks to proclaim your love to a hurting world, stand up against injustice and share the hospitality of your kingdom.

We ask all this in the precious name of the Baby of Bethlehem.

Amen.

Embrace the Middle East.

Everyone at St Oswald's wishes you a Christmas and New Year filled with the peace of God, the joy of the birth of Christ, and the hope of the Holy Spirit.