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.

Wednesday, 13th May 2026 - Easter Season: Rogation Day; The Fourth Day of Christian Aid Week

Alleluia, Alleluia!

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Alleluia!

1 Corinthians 5:7b-8, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 

Luke 7:1-7, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

The Collect of the Day:

God our redeemer, who hast delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of thy Son: grant, that as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; 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 Prayer for a World free from Poverty:

God of justice, we pray for a world free from poverty,
where all people can live with dignity, hope and enough to thrive.

Be close to those facing hardship today.
Bring strength where there is struggle
and hope where there is uncertainty.

Open our eyes to injustice,
our hearts to compassion,
and our lives to action.

May we stand together in love
until poverty is no more.

Amen.

Christian Aid 

A Poem for Rogationtide:

The Rogation Days

“Despise not thy mother when she is old.”
Prov. xxiii. .

Heavy and sad the Church must go:
Full weary are her latter days,
And she must hush the voice of praise
While tears of penance flow.
And she must fast, though by her side
The Bridegroom yet on earth doth move;
And fear must be instead of love
For her own children's pride.

Yet, holy Mother! Lent is past:
And long ago the Easter sun
Into the middle sky hath run;—
Wherefore this second fast?
Mother! with us the Lord doth bide;
Yet but a little while He stays,—
Then for three dim and lonely days
Why keep us from His side?
He said we should not fast when He
Came down to live with us below:
Then, holy Mother! why forego
Our ancient liberty?
When thou wert in thy virgin prime,
Those forty days through all the earth
Thy heart did swell with festal mirth—
It was thy bridal time.

“Talk not, my son, of early days:
My precious stones were passing fair,
My life was Sacrament and prayer,
My unity was praise.
“These glories now are well-nigh past:
My son! the world is waxing strong;
The day is hot; the fight is long,
And therefore do I fast.
“And ye are weak, and cannot bear
Full forty days of Easter mirth:
And nought is left unstained of earth,
But penance, fast, and prayer.
“Oh! weary is my stay below;
And thus with strong and earnest cry,
As each Ascension-day glides by,
I fain with Him would go.

“Then watch and fast, like saints of yore;
These three new days perchance may bring
The earlier advent of our King,
And we shall fast no more!

Frederick William Faber 

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

May 2026 - Gateshead and Gateshead West Deaneries

The Prayer of St Oswald of Northumbria:

Let us together implore the living and true and almighty God in his mercy to defend us against the pride and fierceness of our enemy; for that God knows our cause is just, and that we fight for the salvation of our nation.

Amen. 

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