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.

Saturday, 1st August 2026 - Ordinary Time: Lammastide

The Collect of the Day:

O almighty Lord and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments, that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and 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 

A Reading for Lammastide:

The Offering of First Fruits

The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall raise the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may find acceptance; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall raise it. On the day when you raise the sheaf, you shall offer a lamb a year old, without blemish, as a burnt-offering to the Lord. And the grain-offering with it shall be two-tenths of an ephah of choice flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire of pleasing odour to the Lord; and the drink-offering with it shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. You shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears until that very day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your settlements.

Leviticus 23:9-14, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

A Prayer for Lammastide:

For the First Fruits

We give thanks to you,
Lord Almighty,
Creator of the whole world,
Preserver of all,
through your only Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
for the first fruits which are offered to you,
not because we must, but as we are able.
For who can worthily give you thanks
for all you have given?
You are the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob,
and of all the saints.
You made all things fruitful by your Word,
and commanded the earth to bring forth various fruits
for our food and our enjoyment.
You have given your lesser creatures
grass to those that eat grass,
and to some meat, to others seeds,
but to us grain, as good and proper food,
and many other things—
some for our needs,
some for our health,
and some for our pleasure.
For all of these,
you are worthy of exalted hymns of praise
for your blessings through Christ,
through him be glory, honour, and worship to you,
in the Holy Spirit, forever. 

Amen.

Apostolic Constitutions (Adapted from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J Manning Potts, 1953)

A Prayer for All Those Affected by the Recent Earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan:

God of mercy and compassion,

We pray for the people of Japan following the devastating earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Hold close all who mourn the loss of loved ones. Bring healing to those who are injured and comfort to all who are frightened, displaced or waiting for news of family and friends.

Protect those who remain trapped or missing. Give strength, wisdom and endurance to rescue workers, medical teams and all who are providing emergency assistance.

We pray for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May they receive shelter, food, clean water, medical care and the practical support they need.

Strengthen our sisters and brothers in the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, the Anglican Church of Japan, and all churches and communities offering comfort and care.

Amid grief and destruction, sustain the people of Japan with courage and hope, and guide them through the long work of recovery.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our refuge and our strength.

Amen.

The Anglican Communion 

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month: 

August 2026 - Auckland Deanery

A Prayer of St Oswald of Northumbria:

Let us all kneel, and jointly beseech the true and living God Almighty, in his mercy, to defend us from the haughty and fierce enemy; for He knows that we have undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation.

Amen. 

(Prayed by King Oswald with his Army on the Battlefield on the Eve of the Battle of Heavenfield, AD634)