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.

Upcoming Services and Events: 

Wednesday, 18th November 2026 - The Feast of St Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231 [Lesser Festival]: Midweek Said Holy Communion (BCP) in the Church/Vestry at 10:00am

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 22nd November will take place in the Institute across the road. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.***

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

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

The First Reading Appointed for Today's Principal Service:

Be silent before the Lord God!
For the day of the Lord is at hand;
the Lord has prepared a sacrifice,
he has consecrated his guests.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
and I will punish the people
who rest complacently on their dregs,
those who say in their hearts,
‘The Lord will not do good,
nor will he do harm.’
Their wealth shall be plundered,
and their houses laid waste.
Though they build houses,
they shall not inhabit them;
though they plant vineyards,
they shall not drink wine from them.

The great day of the Lord is near,
near and hastening fast;
the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter,
the warrior cries aloud there.
That day will be a day of wrath,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and devastation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
a day of trumpet blast and battle cry
against the fortified cities
and against the lofty battlements.

I will bring such distress upon people
that they shall walk like the blind;
because they have sinned against the Lord,
their blood shall be poured out like dust,
and their flesh like dung.
Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the Lord’s wrath;
in the fire of his passion
the whole earth shall be consumed;
for a full, a terrible end
he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. 

Zephaniah 1:7, 12–end, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

The Post Communion:

Gracious Lord, who in this holy sacrament dost 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.

Common Worship 

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.)