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.
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).
Upcoming Services:
Wednesday, 28th October 2026 - Said Holy Communion on the Feast of St Simon and St Jude the Apostles at 10:00am (BCP)
Sunday, 1st November 2026 - Sung Parish Eucharist on the Feast of All Saints at 11:00am (Common Worship), and All Souls Memorial Choral Evensong on the Eve of Commemoration of the Faithful Departed at 6:00pm (BCP)
All are very welcome.
***Please note that we are currently experiencing an issue with our heating system in church, so please wrap up warmly when visiting us. Hot water bottles are available for use by those attending any of our services, or if you'd like to bring your own, we can fill them for you. We apologize for any inconvenience that this issue may cause.***
Wednesday, 28th October 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Feast of St Simon and St Jude the Apostles
The Collect of the Day:
O almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head cornerstone: grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Amen.
Common Worship
The Epistle Appointed for the Principal Service on the Feast of St Simon and St Jude the Apostles:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.
Ephesians 2:19-end, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition
A Hymn for the Feast of St Simon and St Jude the Apostles:
Thou Who Sentest Thine Apostles
Thou Who sentest Thine apostles
two by two before Thy face,
partners in the night of toiling,
heirs together of Thy grace,
throned at length, their labours ended,
each in his appointed place;
Praise to Thee for those Thy champions
whom our hymns to-day proclaim;
one, whose zeal by Thee enlightened
burned anew with nobler flame;
one, the kinsman of Thy childhood,
brought at last to know Thy Name.
Praise to Thee! Thy fire within them
spake in love, and wrought in power;
seen in mighty stars and wonders
in Thy Church’s mourning hour;
heard in tones of sternest warning
when the storms began to lower.
Once again those storms are breaking;
hearts are failing, love grows cold;
faith is darkened, sin abounding;
grievous wolves assail Thy fold:
save us, Lord, our one Salvation;
save the faith revealed of old.
Call the erring by Thy pity;
warn the tempted by Thy fear;
keep us true to Thine allegiance,
counting life itself less dear;
standing firmer, holding faster,
as we see the end draw near:
Till, with holy Jude and Simon
and the thousand faithful more,
we, the good confession witnessed
and the lifelong conflict o’er,
on the sea of fire and crystal
stand, and wonder, and adore.
God the Father, great and wondrous
in Thy works, to Thee be praise;
King of saints, to Thee be glory,
just and true in all Thy ways;
praise to Thee, from both proceeding,
Holy Ghost, through endless days.
Amen.
John Ellerton
The Post Communion:
Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost didst send thy Holy Spirit to the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: by the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to bear witness to thy truth and to draw everyone to the fire of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Common Worship
A Collect following the Announcement of His Majesty the King's Approval of the Nomination of the Reverend Dr Jitesh Krisnakant Patel, MA, MPhys, PhD, to the Suffragan See of Jarrow, in our Diocese (on Friday, 23rd October 2026):
Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed thy flock: Give grace, we beseech thee, to all Bishops, the Pastors of thy Church, that they may diligently preach thy Word, and duly administer the godly discipline thereof; and grant to the people, that they may obediently follow the same; that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Collect for the Form of Ordaining or Consecrating of an Archbishop or Bishop, The Book of Common Prayer (1662)
We congratulate Jitesh, and keep he and his family in our prayers at this time.
A Prayer for Black History Month (October 2026):
Loving God,
You have created all things and by your will they have their being.
We rage at a system that teaches and treats black people as if they are not made in the image of God and created equal.
We seek redress for the years of torment and trauma of being othered.
We repent of a system that still demands black people justify their place in every space.
We pray for your liberating kingdom and kin-dom to come on earth as it is in heaven.
The light of the Lord has come, the glory of the Lord is rising.
Lord, shine and arise within us, as we rise, we rise.
Amen.
The Right Reverend Dr Rosemarie Mallett - Bishop of Croydon (Diocese of Southwark), Rage & Hope: 75 Prayers for a Better World (Christian Aid), ed. Chine McDonald and Wendy Lloyd, SPCK Publishing, 2021
Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:
October 2026: Darlington Deanery
A Prayer of St Oswald of Northumbria:
Let us all kneel, and together beseech the true and living God Almighty in his mercy to defend us from the proud and cruel enemy; for he knows that we have undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation.
Amen.
(Prayed by King Oswald of Northumbria and his army on the battlefield on the eve of the Battle of Heavenfield)
St Oswald's, Durham Charity No. 1196296
