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.

Tuesday, 21st April 2026 - Easter Season: The Feast of St Anselm, Abbot of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury and Teacher of the Faith, 1109 (Lesser Festival); The Centenary of the Birth of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Alleluia, Alleluia!

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.

Alleluia!

1 Corinthians 15:20-22, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:30-38, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

The Collect of the Day:

Eternal God, who gave great gifts to your servant Anselm as a pastor and teacher: grant that we, like him, may desire you with our whole heart and, so desiring, may seek you and, seeking, may find you; 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

A Prayer to Mark the Centenary of the Birth of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

Gracious God, we give you thanks for all that you gave to Church, nation and Commonwealth through the life of your servant Queen Elizabeth II. We remember with gratitude her long life of Christian witness, her compassion for those in need, and her devotion to duty. As we mark the centenary of her birth, grant that, inspired by her example, we may serve you faithfully in our own generation, with steadfast hearts, merciful hands, and trust in your providence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York

A Poem for the Third Sunday of Easter:

On the Walk to Emmaus

Plodding through
with him
on Emmaus road

You don’t know
you know him

He colours history you
nurture as fantasies
with pictures, with quotes
with facts, with truths
like he’d seen it on youtube

How he’s the word
fetched light from gloom
isolated oceans from crust
uncoupled day & night

How he embroidered
himself with flesh &
lulled in a virgin’s loins

How he’s the tree of life
Adam & Eve never had a bite of
how he’s the bread of life
cheer to taste of death

How Moses’ bronze snake
a sketch of his cross
how a gaze into him
trots you into his palace

How the passover lambs
in Egypt epitomise him

How the messiah must
hang & pick up his life

By death of one
life for all

You trot, you leap
check into his eyes

an aeon slide ‘fore him

From Parousia Magazine, Africa, written by Oluwafemi Babasola

A Prayer for Prisoners and Captives:

Lord Jesus you know what it is to be held captive. We pray for all those resident in prison and their families.

May they be aware of your presence with them and may your spirit bring them peace and the hope of new life in Jesus Christ.

May the walls of prison provide a secure place for them to discover both their need for you and that they are loved unconditionally by you.

We pray for all who work in prisons, keep them safe and help them to know and demonstrate your compassion and grace in their daily lives.

We pray for all victims of crime; may your spirit bring them healing and peace as they rebuild their lives.

Gracious God, whose love extends over all the Earth, across all time and for all people, hear our prayer.

Amen.

Written for Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) by the Venerable Peter Leonard, former Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight in the Diocese of Portsmouth 

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

The Prayer of 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)