St Oswald's, Durham

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.

The latest editions of the weekly news-sheet and music notes can be found in the 'News' tab, and please ask if you'd like to join the mailing list. Here are the links to bell ringing and choir and concert information. 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). 

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 the heating system in church, so due to the severe cold conditions, both services on Sunday 15th November will take place in the Institute across the road. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.***

Saturday, 14th November 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Eve of the Second Sunday before Advent (The Eve of the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity); Samuel Seabury, First Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796 [Commemoration]

Christ’s offering himself up to death, and yielding his life for us upon the cross is certainly the most astonishing event that ever happened. And when we consider the benefits thereby procured for us, the pardon of past sin upon our repentance, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of a heavenly inheritance to all who believe in and obey him, we must feel that his sacrifice deserves our grateful remembrance above all other events. 

From 'An Earnest Persuasive to Frequent Communion', Samuel Seabury (1729–1796) alt.

The Collect of the Day:

O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure, that when he shall appear again with power and great glory we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Spirit, he liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever.

Amen. 

Common Worship

An Excerpt from the Second Reading Appointed for Today's Evening Prayer:

Do Not Worry

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:25–33, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

A Prayer on the 86th Anniversary of the Coventry Blitz:

The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation, 1958:

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,

Father forgive.

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,

Father, forgive.

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,

Father, forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

Father, forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,

Father, forgive.

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,

Father, forgive.

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,

Father, forgive.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

The Reverend Canon Joseph W Poole - First Precentor of the New Coventry Cathedral

We also pray today for our fellow Anglican Communion friends in Christ who serve and worship in the Episcopal Church (US) and in the Scottish Episcopal Church, praying especially for St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen, and for the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.

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.)




































Get in touch

The Reverend Peter Kashouris

St Oswald's Vicarage
Church Street
Durham

DH1 3DG
Vicarage
0191 374 1681
Parish Office
0191 383 0830
What's on

Sung Parish Eucharist in the Institute

Occurring
Every Sunday at for 1 hour, 15 mins
Venue
St Oswald's, Durham
Address
Church Street Durham, DH1 3DQ, United Kingdom

***Please note that we are currently experiencing an issue with the heating system in church, so due to the severe cold conditions, both services on Sunday 15th November will take place in the Institute across the road. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.***

The worshipping heart of parish life; a Common Worship service including Holy Communion, with refreshments afterwards in the Institute across the road.

All are very welcome.

Sunday, 15th November 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Second Sunday before Advent (The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity)

Sung Parish Eucharist followed by Tea and Coffee in the Institute

Officiant and Preacher:
The Reverend Canon Gavin Wort - Lead Chaplain at Durham University

Hymns:
Please see boards in church

Psalms:
Please see boards in church

Readings:
Zephaniah 1:7, 12–end
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Matthew 25:14–30

The Collect of the Day:

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Gospel Reading:

The Parable of the Talents

Jesus told his disciples this parable: ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.”

But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

(Matthew 25:14–30, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

The Dean and Chapter of Durham: Dean - The Very Reverend Dr Philip Plyming; Reverend Canons - Professor Simon Oliver, Charlie Allen, Michael Hampel and Jane Maycock; Lay Canons - Dr Maria Cockerill, Mr Jonathan Ward, Mr Paul Chandler, Dr Apollo Tutesigensi, Professor Stefanie Sheen and Ms Alice Ambrose-Thurman; Chapter Clerk and Chief Operating Officer - Mr Guy Sampson; The College of Canons

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

Iglesia Anglicana de Chile: Primate of the Anglican Church of Chile and Bishop of South of Chile - The Most Reverend Enrique Lago Zugadi

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

November 2026: Stockton Deanery

The Post Communion:

Gracious Lord, in this holy sacrament you give substance to our hope: bring us at the last to that fullness of life for which we long; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (2000); *SP = Sing Praise: Hymns and Songs for Refreshing Worship (2010).***

View attachment

St_ Oswald's The Calendar (1) (6).docx

Upcoming services and parish news.

Safeguarding

The parish of St. Oswald's, Durham is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults.

Please click through to our safeguarding page for more information.

St. Oswald's safeguarding page

St Oswald's, Durham Charity No. 1196296