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.

Thursday, 20th August 2026 - Ordinary Time: St Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153 [Lesser Festival]; William and Catherine Booth, Founders of the Salvation Army, 1912 and 1890 [Commemoration]

'If we are to better the future we must disturb the present.'

Catherine Booth

The Collect of the Day:

O merciful redeemer, who, by the life and preaching of thy servant Bernard, didst rekindle the radiant light of thy Church: grant that we in our generation may be inflamed with the same spirit of discipline and love and ever walk before thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Common Worship

A Reading for the Feast of St Bernard of Clairvaux:

And from the throne came a voice saying,

‘Praise our God,
all you his servants,
and all who fear him,
small and great.’

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,

‘Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready;
to her it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure’—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’

(Revelation 19:5-9, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

Cf. Exciting Holiness: Collects & Readings for the Festivals & Lesser Festivals of the Calendar of the Church of England authorised for use from Advent Sunday, 1997, Canterbury Press Norwich; Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Post Communion:

O God of truth, whose Wisdom prepared her table and invited us to eat the bread and drink the wine of the kingdom: help us to lay aside all folly and to walk all our days in the way of discernment, that we may come with thy servant Bernard to the eternal heavenly feast; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. 

Common Worship

A Hymn Attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux:

Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee

Jesu, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
nor can the memory find
a sweeter sound than Jesu's name,
the Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who ask how kind thou art,
how good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
nor tongue nor pen can show;
the love of Jesus, what it is
none but his loved ones know.

Jesu, our only joy be thou,
as thou our prize wilt be;
in thee be all our glory now,
and through eternity. 

Jesu, dulcis memoria, Latin, c. 12th century, tr. Edward Caswall 1814-1878, Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, 2000, Canterbury Press Norwich; #485

A Prayer for All Students Receiving GCSE or Equivalent Results Today:

Loving God,

We lift before you all who are receiving their GCSE or equivalent results today.

Thank you for their hard work, perseverance, and determination throughout their studies.

Whatever the outcome, may they know that their value is not defined by grades, but by being wonderfully made and deeply loved by you.

Help them to commit their next steps into your hands, trusting that you will guide their path and open the right doors for their future.

Bless their families and friends as they offer encouragement and support today.

Amen.

Transforming Prayer Community (Diocese of Manchester)

A Prayer for All Communities Affected by the Floods, Droughts and Wildfires Currently Occuring Across the World:

Almighty God, 

As floods, droughts, and wildfires wreck lives, homes, and livelihoods, our hearts break as we recognise the injustice at the heart of the climate crisis – it’s the communities who have done the least to cause it who are most affected. 

We pray that as these communities act to recover from climate disasters, and look to adapt to the changing conditions, you will provide protection for them as you did for Noah and his family. 

We pray that polluting corporations and nations will listen to the calls of affected communities and change their ways, so all your people may live a full life in peace, love, and prosperity. 

Amen.

Christian Aid

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

August 2026 - Auckland Deanery

A Prayer of St Oswald:

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

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. 

The Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People