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.

Upcoming Services and Events: 

Tuesday, 10th November 2026: Tea & Talk in the Institute at 2:00pm

Wednesday, 11th November 2026 - The Feast of St Martin; Armistice Day: Midweek Said Holy Communion at 10:00am

All are very welcome.

***Please note that we are currently experiencing an issue with our heating system in church, so please wrap up warmly when visiting us. Hot water bottles are available for use by those attending any of our services, or if you'd like to bring your own, we can fill them for you, either in the Institute before Parish Eucharist or in the vestry prior to Evensong, Oasis and Midweek Holy Communion. Blankets are also available. We apologize for any inconvenience that this issue may cause.*** 

Sunday, 8th November 2026 - Ordinary Time; Remembrancetide: Remembrance Sunday; The Third Sunday before Advent/The Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity

'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'

The Kohima Epitaph

(Attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds, 1875-1958)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in thy beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen. 

Common Worship

The First Reading Appointed for the Principal Service on Remembrance Sunday:

Peace and Security through Obedience

In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

Micah 4:1-4, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

A Prayer for Remembrance Sunday:

Grant peace, O Lord, across our strife-torn world,
Where war divides and greed and dogma drive.
Help us to learn the lessons from the past,
That all are human and all pay the price.
All life is dear and should be treated so;
Joined, not divided, is the way to go.

Protect, dear Lord, all who, on our behalf,
Now take the steps that place them in harm's way.
May they find courage for each task they face
By knowing they are in our thoughts always.
Then, duty done and missions at an end,
Return them safe to family and friends.

Grant rest, O Lord, to those no longer with us;
Who died protecting us and this their land.
Bring healing, Lord, to those who, through their service,
Bear conflict’s scars on body or in mind.
With those who mourn support and comfort share.
Give strength to those who for hurt loved-ones care.

And some there be who no memorial have;
Who perished are as though they’d never been.
For our tomorrows their today they gave,
And simply asked that in our hearts they'd live.
We heed their call and pledge ourselves again,
At dusk and dawn - we will remember them!

Amen.

Charles Henrywood, 2009

The Post Communion:

O God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion upon the anguish of the world and, by thy healing power, make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Common Worship

A Prayer for Remembrancetide:

God of all consolation and mercy,

We give you thanks for all who have given their lives in past conflicts to preserve our nation’s life and to free the oppressed.

We pray for the nations ravaged by war, and especially for Ukraine; for Israel-Palestine; for Congo and for South Sudan.

We pray your blessing on the peacemakers and on all of our armed forces.

Together with all your saints, we long for the day when your kingdom comes, when nations will beat swords into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks, when there will be no need to learn war anymore,

Through Christ our Lord, the Prince of Peace.

Amen.

The Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft - Bishop Emeritus of Oxford

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

(Prayed by King Oswald and his army on the battlefield on the eve of the Battle of Heavenfield)