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, 8th August 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Feast of St Dominic Guzmán (Sto. Domingo de Guzmán), Priest and Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221 [Lesser Festival]

The Collect of the Day:

Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please thee; 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 Day:

The Activity of the Scribe

How different the one who devotes himself
to the study of the law of the Most High!
He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,
and is concerned with prophecies;
he preserves the sayings of the famous
and penetrates the subtleties of parables;
he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs
and is at home with the obscurities of parables.
He serves among the great
and appears before rulers;
he travels in foreign lands
and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.
He sets his heart on rising early
to seek the Lord who made him,
and to petition the Most High;
he opens his mouth in prayer
and asks pardon for his sins.

If the great Lord is willing,
he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own
and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge,
as he meditates on his mysteries.
He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,
and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
Many will praise his understanding;
it will never be blotted out.
His memory will not disappear,
and his name will live through all generations.
Nations will speak of his wisdom,
and the congregation will proclaim his praise.

Ecclesiasticus 38:34b - 39:10, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

A Prayer for All Those Affected by the Recent Earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan:

God of mercy and compassion,

We pray for the people of Japan following the devastating earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Hold close all who mourn the loss of loved ones. Bring healing to those who are injured and comfort to all who are frightened, displaced or waiting for news of family and friends.

Protect those who remain trapped or missing. Give strength, wisdom and endurance to rescue workers, medical teams and all who are providing emergency assistance.

We pray for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May they receive shelter, food, clean water, medical care and the practical support they need.

Strengthen our sisters and brothers in the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, the Anglican Church of Japan, and all churches and communities offering comfort and care.

Amid grief and destruction, sustain the people of Japan with courage and hope, and guide them through the long work of recovery.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our refuge and our strength.

Amen.

The Anglican Communion 

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 Ecclesiastical History of the English People, the Venerable Bede 

A Blessing for the Day:

A 13th Century Dominican Blessing

May God the Father, who made us, bless us. May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst. May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.

May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all. May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God's grace to the eternal Kingdom.

Amen.

St Dominic Guzmán