Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) 2026 - Midweek Holy Communion

Occurring
for 45 mins
Venue
St Oswald's, Durham
Address
Church Street Durham, DH1 3DQ, United Kingdom

All are very welcome to join us for a service of Holy Communion to mark the Wednesday of Holy Week.

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

(John 13:21-26, King James Version)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

Chester-le-Street and Houghton Synod: Area Dean - The Reverend John Lintern; Lay Chair - Dr Simon Wilkinson; Secretary - Vacant; Treasurer - Malcolm Adamson

Safeguarding Management Group

St Anthony’s Priory: The Reverend
Dr Nicholas Buxton, Ruth Grant, The Reverend Canon Paul Tyler, Laurence Pinkney, Scholastica Jacob, Sheila Shearer and Gavin Harper

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intention for the Day:

The Diocese of Victoria Nyanza (The Anglican Church of Tanzania) - Vacant

St Oswald's, Durham

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.

The latest editions of the weekly news-sheet and music notes are in the 'News' tab, and please ask if you'd like to join the mailing list. Here are links to bell ringing and choir and concert info. We have a strong connection with St Oswald's Primary and Nursery School, and with our neighbouring parishes within The Benefice of the Three Saints—St Mary's (Shincliffe), St Mary's (Coxhoe) and St Helen's (Kelloe). 

Wednesday, 15th April 2026: Easter Season

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Alleluia!

1 Corinthians 5:7-8, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition 

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:1-7, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may alway serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of 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 Prayer for all who are in Despair and Darkness, that they may find the Hope and Light of Christ:

Lord our trust is in you alone.
In a world with much despair and trouble,
where people are famished for hope we turn to you.
Make us strong to comfort those who are in despair.
Give us hope to encourage and strengthen those in trouble.
Send your unfailing love to surround those who are in harm's way.
Comfort the comforters,
Mourn with the mourners,
Protect the innocent,
Draw us all into the shelter of your wings.

Amen.

Christine Sine - Founder and Facilitator of Godspace

A Sonnet for the Second Sunday of Easter:

St Thomas the Apostle

"We do not know... how can we know the way?"
Courageous master of the awkward question,
You spoke the words the others dared not say
And cut through their evasion and abstraction.
Oh doubting Thomas, father of my faith,
You put your finger on the nub of things
We cannot love some disembodied wraith,
But flesh and blood must be our king of kings.
Your teaching is to touch, embrace, anoint,
Feel after Him and find Him in the flesh.
Because He loved your awkward counter-point
The Word has heard and granted you your wish.
Oh place my hands with yours, help me divine
The wounded God whose wounds are healing mine.

Sounding the Seasons - The Reverend Dr A Malcolm Guite, Canterbury Press Norwich, 2012

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

The Prayer of Oswald of Northumbria:

Let us together implore the living and true and almighty God in his mercy to defend us against the pride and fierceness of our enemy; for that God knows our cause is just, and that we fight for the salvation of our nation.

Amen.

(Prayed by King Oswald with his Army on the Battlefield on the Eve of the Battle of Heavenfield, AD634)




















Get in touch

Revd. Peter Kashouris

St. Oswald's Vicarage,
Church Street

DH1 3DG
Vicarage
0191 374 1681
Parish Office
0191 383 0830
What's on

Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) 2026 - Midweek Holy Communion

Occurring
for 45 mins
Venue
St Oswald's, Durham
Address
Church Street Durham, DH1 3DQ, United Kingdom

All are very welcome to join us for a service of Holy Communion to mark the Wednesday of Holy Week.

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

(John 13:21-26, King James Version)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

Chester-le-Street and Houghton Synod: Area Dean - The Reverend John Lintern; Lay Chair - Dr Simon Wilkinson; Secretary - Vacant; Treasurer - Malcolm Adamson

Safeguarding Management Group

St Anthony’s Priory: The Reverend
Dr Nicholas Buxton, Ruth Grant, The Reverend Canon Paul Tyler, Laurence Pinkney, Scholastica Jacob, Sheila Shearer and Gavin Harper

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intention for the Day:

The Diocese of Victoria Nyanza (The Anglican Church of Tanzania) - Vacant

Safeguarding

The parish of St. Oswald's, Durham is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults.

Please click through to our safeguarding page for more information.

St. Oswald's safeguarding page

St Oswald's, Durham Charity No. 1196296