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).
Tuesday, 23rd June 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Feast of St Etheldreda (St Æthelthryth, St Ediltrudis, St Audrey) Abbess of Ely, c.678 [Lesser Festival]
The Collect of the Day:
O eternal God, who didst bestow such grace on thy servant Etheldreda that she gave herself wholly to the life of prayer and to the service of thy true religion: grant that we may in like manner seek thy kingdom in our earthly lives, that by thy guidance we may be united in the glorious fellowship of thy saints; 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 from Today's Common Worship Morning Prayer:
The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother
But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:17-24, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition
A Sonnet for the Feast of St Etheldreda:
St Etheldreda
"Nevertheless she persisted..."
Abbess and Princess, lend us all your strength,
Your fierce determination to be free;
Free of those cold conventions which at length
Had tethered you as married property.
Still you persisted, you would not be held
From your first love for Jesus Christ your Lord
And from that free devotion which you held,
As bride of Christ, to dwell within the Word
And let Him dwell in you as mystery:
A secret place to bide and to abide.
You slipped away to Ely with the tide;
Your Pilgrim staff became a flowering tree,
Inviting men and women equally,
To keep a soul-space open, welcome, free.
The Reverend Dr A Malcolm Guite
A Collect for All in our Diocese and Neighbouring Dioceses who are to be Ordained as Deacons and Priests this Petertide:
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, by your Holy Spirit you have appointed various orders of ministry in the Church: look with mercy on your servants now called to be deacons and priests; maintain them in truth and renew them in holiness, that by word and good example they may faithfully serve you to the glory of your name and the benefit of your Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Common Worship
We pray especially for Helen Miller (previously an ordinand at St Oswald's) who is to be ordained as a priest this coming Saturday, 27th June 2026, and will continue to serve her curacy at St Nics.
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
