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, 21st June 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Third Sunday after Trinity; Sanctuary Sunday (The End of Refugee Week); Father's Day
The Collect of the Day:
Almighty God, who hast broken the tyranny of sin and hast sent the Spirit of thy Son into our hearts, whereby we call thee Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to thy service, that the whole world may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; 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
A Passage of Scripture for Sanctuary Sunday:
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition
A Passage of Scripture from the Principal Service for Today:
But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:8-11, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition
A Prayer for All who are Seeking Refuge:
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
provide for all seeking refuge from famine.
God of Hagar, Joseph and Moses,
liberate all seeking refuge from slavery.
God of Esther, Naomi and Ruth,
strengthen all seeking refuge as families.
God of David, Elijah, and Jeremiah,
protect all seeking refuge from conflict.
God of Ezekiel, Ezra and Nehemiah,
comfort all who are longing for home.
God of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
journey with all seeking refuge today.
In the name of the One who was
both refuge and refugee.
Amen.
Christian Aid
A Prayer for All Fathers:
Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.
Amen.
New Patterns for Worship (Common Worship)
A Prayer in Celebration of 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
