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.

Saturday, 4th April 2026 - Passiontide: Holy Saturday (Easter Eve)

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:25b-30, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

The Collect of the Day:

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continually mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died and was buried and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Common Worship

A Sonnet for Good Friday:

Crucifixion: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

See, as they strip the robe from off his back

And spread his arms and nail them to the cross,

The dark nails pierce him and the sky turns black,

And love is firmly fastened on to loss.

But here a pure change happens. On this tree

Loss becomes gain, death opens into birth.

Here wounding heals and fastening makes free,

Earth breathes in heaven, heaven roots in earth.

And here we see the length, the breadth, the height,

Where love and hatred meet and love stays true,

Where sin meets grace and darkness turns to light,

We see what love can bear and be and do.

And here our Saviour calls us to his side,

His love is free, his arms are open wide.

Malcolm Guite

A Prayer for the Persecuted Church:

Lord Jesus, today we think of all those who, like you, have been handed over to their enemies. We think of Christian girls forced into marriage against their will; of wives or husbands betrayed to the authorities by their spouses; of children handed over by their parents. We think of churches who meet in secret, and who often cannot be sure who they can trust, or whether they have spies in their midst. Lord, may they remain strong in their faith; may they have wisdom in knowing what to share, and courage not to give into fear. And may those who betray them see in their lives your forgiveness and hope. 

Amen.

Open Doors UK & Ireland

A Hymn for Passiontide and Holy Week:

1 O cross of Christ, immortal tree
on which our Saviour died,
the world is sheltered by your arms
that bore the crucified.

2 From bitter death and barren wood
the tree of life is made;
its branches bear unfailing fruit
and leaves that never fade.

3 O faithful cross, you stand unmoved
while ages run their course:
foundation of the universe,
creation's binding force.

4 Give glory to the risen Christ
and to his cross give praise,
the sign of God's unfathomed love,
the hope of all our days.

From Stanbrook Abbey

Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (2000) #115

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

The Prayer of King 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)