St Oswald's Church, Durham

St Oswald's Church stands on Church Street in Elvet, just south of Durham city centre, and is one of the oldest parish churches in the city. Dedicated to the 7th-century Northumbrian king and saint Oswald, the church has origins stretching back to the 12th century, though much of what you see today reflects later medieval rebuilding and Victorian restoration.

The building is best known for its splendid setting above the River Wear, with views across to Durham Cathedral from the churchyard, and for its fine interior features including a medieval nave arcade, a stained glass east window designed by Ford Madox Brown and executed by the William Morris workshop, and monuments to local families. The churchyard slopes down towards the river and is a peaceful place to pause on a walk into the city.

St Oswald's remains an active Anglican parish church with regular Sunday services and choral music. Visitors are usually welcome outside service times to look at the historic interior, and the surrounding lanes of Elvet make an atmospheric approach on foot from the city centre or Prebends Bridge.