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.

Monday, 29th June 2026 - Ordinary Time (Petertide): The Feast of St Peter and St Paul, Apostles and Martyrs; The Annivetsary of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Poet, 1861

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified thee in their death as in their life: grant that thy Church, inspired by their teaching and example, and made one by thy Spirit, may ever stand firm on the one foundation which is thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Common Worship 

The Gospel Acclamation:

Alleluia, alleluia. I do not call you servants but friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

 John 15:15

 Alleluia.

The Gospel Reading:

Peter's Declaration about Jesus

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ 

Matthew 16:13-19, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

The Post Communion:

Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost didst send thy Holy Spirit to the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: by the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to bear witness to thy truth and to draw everyone to the fire of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Common Worship 

A Poem for the Feast of St Peter and St Paul:

The Martyrdom of St Peter and St Paul

May, friend, what means this stir today? What summons gathers all
These happy troops along the streets of Rome?
The feast ennobled by the blood of Peter and of Paul
Calls forth the worshippers to leave their home.

The self-same day with interval of one revolving year
Beheld the pair by death triumphant crowned.
Full well doth Father Tiber know, gliding those marshes near,
Hallowed with trophies twain that turfy ground.

Both Cross and Sword he witnessed, twice the ghastly shower saw fall,
The self-same herb bedewed with martyr's blood.
A victim first fell Peter, in Nero's judgment-hall
Condemned to hang upon the towering wood.

But he, in fear to emulate his Master, cannot brook
To court the doom that our salvation earned:
And he claimeth from his murderer one boon, that he may look
On the Tree's nether limb with head down-turned.

So then his hands transfixed below, the top his feet upbore:
Greater in spirit as more vile in guise,
Remembering "Who abaseth self exalted shall he soar,"
To give his soul to heaven, he bowed his eyes.

Soon as the circling seasons brought the swift recurring date,
And Orient Sun reushered in the day,
The tyrant spat on holy Paul the venom of his hate,
Christ's world-worn Teacher resolute to slay.

He had seen the goal-had written "I am ready to depart
And be with Christ," with heaven-inspired pen.
The headsman does his office. Beats no more that noble heart;
Nor day nor hour has failed his prescient ken.

On either bank, nigh each to each, their ashes now repose,
Where winds the stream between the two hallowed graves;
The gilded shrine that on the right doth Peter's bones enclose
'Neath sough of olives sacred Tiber laves.

Aurelius Prudentius Clemens

A Poem for the Anniversary of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who was born at Coxhoe Hall, Co Durham and was Baptised at nearby St Helen's, Kelloe (part of our Benefice, The Benefice of the Three Saints):

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Petertide Prayer Points:

We pray for and congratulate all those in the Diocese of Durham, the Diocese of Newcastle and the Diocese of York who were ordained into the Priesthood or Diaconate over the weekend, especially Helen Miller (previously an ordinand at St Oswald's) who was ordained as a priest on Saturday at Durham Cathedral, and who will continue to serve her curacy at St Nics. 

We also pray for and congratulate Neville Griffiths at St Oswald's on the 60th anniversary of his ordination. 

A Prayer for All Affected by the Recent Earthquakes in Venuzuela:

Gracious God, our refuge and strength, we pray for the people of Venezuela following the recent earthquakes. Comfort those who mourn, heal the injured, protect those still awaiting rescue, and strengthen all who are working to bring relief and care. Give wisdom to those leading the response, generosity to those able to help, and hope to all who are facing loss and uncertainty. We pray especially for those who know and love you in Venezuela: strengthen their trust in you, fill them with compassion, and use them to point others to the hope that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. In his name we pray.

Amen.

The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst (The Anglican Church of Australia)

A Prayer for Unity in 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)