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 Parish 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.

Upcoming Services and Events: 

Sunday, 15th November 2026 - The Second Sunday before Advent (The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity): Sung Parish Eucharist (Common Worship) at 11:00am, and Choral Evensong (BCP) 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, either in the Institute before Parish Eucharist or in the vestry prior to Evensong and Midweek Holy Communion. Blankets are also available. We apologize for any inconvenience that this issue may cause.*** 

Wednesday, 11th November 2026 - Ordinary Time; Remembrancetide: The Feast of St Martin, Bishop of Tours, C397 (Martinmas) [Lesser Festival]; Armistice Day

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them.

The Collect of the Day:

God all powerful, who called Martin from the armies of this world to be a faithful soldier of Christ: give us grace to follow him in his love and compassion for the needy, and enable your Church to claim for all people their inheritance as children of God; 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

Today's Reading:

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.’

Deuteronomy 15:7, 8, 10, 11, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

(The first reading appointed for the Eucharist on the Feast of St Martin)

A Prayer of Commemoration for the Fallen on Armistice Day:

Father of all, remember your holy promise,
and look with love on all your people, living and departed.
On this day we especially ask that you would hold forever
all who have suffered during war, those who returned scarred by warfare,
those who waited anxiously at home,
and those who returned wounded, and disillusioned;
those who mourned, and those communities that were diminished and suffered loss.
Remember too those who acted with kindly compassion,
those who bravely risked their own lives for their comrades,
and those who in the aftermath of war, worked tirelessly for a more peaceful world.
And as you remember them, remember us, O Lord;
grant us peace in our time and a longing for the day when people of every language, race, and nation will be brought into the unity of Christ’s kingdom.
This we ask in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

The Church of England

A Poem for Martinmas:

Laudamus

Not to us for the wisdom which brought us through years of amaze,
Not to us for deliverance wrought us in perilous days,
Not to us, O omnipotent Lord, be the glory and praise!

By Thee, as of old it was written, their strong ones are bowed,
Thy might hath triumphantly smitten the haughty and proud.
The weak and the captive are chanting Thy praises aloud!

Ay, further the voice of thanksgiving is echoed and spread.
To-day all the hosts of the living are one with the dead
Are one in their worship of Thee, their invincible Head!

Inasmuch as Thine arm hath defended with brand as of flame,
Inasmuch as the battle is ended, its slaughter and shame,
Inasmuch as we strove at Thy bidding, by Thee overcame,


Inasmuch as the courage of brothers is set as a sign,
As the tender devotion of mothers is wholly divine,
As the triumph of leader and led are all utterly Thine,

Now therefore, because Thou hast broken the evil abhorred,
We turn to Thy Cross as the token that shatters the sword,
We praise Thee, we bless and adore Thee, omnipotent Lord!

St Martin’s Day 1918, Anthony C Deane

The Post Communion:

God, shepherd of your people, whose servant Martin revealed the loving service of Christ in his ministry as a pastor of your people: by this eucharist in which we share awaken within us the love of Christ and keep us faithful to our Christian calling; through him who laid down his life for us, but is alive and reigns with you, now and for ever.

Amen.

Common Worship 

A Prayer for Inter Faith Week, Sunday 8th–Sunday 15th November 2026:

Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith,

Help us Lord, this Inter Faith Week, to draw closer to people of all faiths,

Sharing the gifts you have given us,

Giving thanks for all that we receive through dialogue.

Help us to be people of reconciliation,

Building up our communities,

Putting the needs of others before our own.

Where there is discrimination, fear or hurt,

We pray for healing and repair,

Trusting in the one who for the sake of the joy set before him endured the cross

Taking his seat at the right of the throne of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Right Reverend Jonathan Martin Gainsborough - Suffragan Bishop of Kingston (Diocese of Southwark)

(The theme for this year's Inter Faith Week is 'Lighting the Way for a Shared Future', inspired by the symbolism of light found across many faiths and traditions.)

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

November 2026: Stockton Deanery

A Prayer of our Patron, 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. 

St Oswald of Northumbria

(Prayed by King Oswald and his army on the battlefield on the eve of the Battle of Heavenfield)