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).
Sunday, 28th June 2026 - Ordinary Time (Petertide): The Fourth Sunday after Trinity
The Collect of the Day:
O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us thy mercy that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Common Worship
A Passage of Scripture from Today's Principal Service:
When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:20-end, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition
We pray for and congratulate all in our Diocese who have been ordained into the Priesthood yesterday afternoon at Durham Cathedral, especially Helen Miller who was previously an ordinand at St Oswald's and will continue to serve her curacy at St Nics.
We pray too for all in our Diocese who are to be ordained into the Diaconate this morning at Durham Cathedral.
We also pray for and congratulate our friend Neville Griffiths at St Oswald's on the 60th anniversary of his ordination.
A Prayer for all Clergy who Serve in our Diocese this Petertide:
A Prayer for the Clergy and People
Almighty and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels, send down upon our bishops and curates, and all congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer
A Sonnet for Petertide:
St Peter
Impulsive master of misunderstanding
You comfort me with all your big mistakes;
Jumping the ship before you make the landing,
Placing the bet before you know the stakes.
I love the way you step out without knowing,
The way you sometimes speak before you think,
The way your broken faith is always growing,
The way he holds you even when you sink.
Born to a world that always tried to shame you,
Your shaky ego vulnerable to shame,
I love the way that Jesus chose to name you,
Before you knew how to deserve that name.
And in the end your Saviour let you prove
That each denial is undone by love.
From Sounding the Seasons by the Reverend Dr A Malcolm Guite, Canterbury Press Norwich
A Prayer for All Affected by the Earthquake in Venuzuela:
When the earth trembles and homes fall to dust, hold our hearts, God.
When the aftershocks come and fear takes hold, hold our hearts, God.
When grief shakes families to the core, hold our hearts, God.
Send our hands and feet to help however we can.
Our sisters and brothers in Venezuela live this now.
God of love and mercy, may we match your love in the way we respond - now.
Amen.
Christian Aid
A Prayer for Unity in 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 kneel together, and pray the true, the ever living and almighty God to protect us in his mercy from the arrogant savagery of our enemies, for he knows that we fight in a just cause for the preservation of our nation.
Amen.
Saints of the North
(Prayed by King Oswald with his Army on the Battlefield on the Eve of the Battle of Heavenfield, AD634)
St Oswald's, Durham Charity No. 1196296
