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.*** 

Friday, 13th November 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Feast Day of Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836 [Lesser Festival]

The Collect of the Day:

Eternal God, who raised up Charles Simeon to preach the good news of Jesus Christ and inspire your people in service and mission: grant that we with all your Church may worship the Saviour, turn in sorrow from our sins and walk in the way of holiness; 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

The First Reading Appointed for the Principal Service on the Feast Day of Charles Simeon:

My covenant with Levi was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 

Malachi 2:5–7, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

A Prayer That We Might Trust and Rejoice in God:

Teach us, O God, to trust your providence, ordered and sure; to accept your wisdom, unerring and true and to rejoice in your love unbounded and eternal; through Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

Charles Simeon (1759–1836)

The Post Communion:

God, shepherd of your people, whose servant Charles Simeon 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.

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 (the 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

(This prayer was prayed by King Oswald and his army on the battlefield on the eve of the Battle of Heavenfield.)