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 (BCP) at 10:00am
Sunday, 1st November 2026 - Sung Parish Eucharist (Common Worship) on the Feast of All Saints at 11:00am, and Choral Evensong (BCP) for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed on the Eve of the Feast of All Souls at 6:00pm
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.***
Tuesday, 27th October 2026 - Ordinary Time
The Collect of the Day:
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, 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 Today's Morning Prayer:
The Good Fight of Faith
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Personal Instructions and Benediction
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith.
Grace be with you.
1 Timothy 6:11-end, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition
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
