At 7pm, the church bells were rung at St Luke's after it was filled to capacity for a vigil organised by local ministers and Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher.
Vicar Andrea McDougall said, like others, she felt "terrible shock'' when she first heard the news of the shooting. Then "as the day unfolded the news grew worse and worse and worse''.
She thanked those for coming to respect the "inalienable right to live and worship in peace'' and for rejecting hatred and intolerance.
Mr Kircher said it had been an emotional 24 hours and he thought, as well, of those ``who rushed in to help others''.
The turnout proved "we are a caring community''.
PHOTO: HAMISH MACLEAN
