‘There are dark days’: Charleston church reopens

In sweltering heat, a mixed-ethnicity congregation of around 400 filled the church, with more outside, for a memorial service remembering those killed on Wednesday.

“It’s been rough,” Reverend Norvel Goff told the crowd.

“We some of us have been downright angry, but through it all, God has sustained us and encouraged us. Let us not grow weary.”

Amid high security, with armed police searching bags at the door of the South Carolina church, people gathered to hear messages of love, reconciliation and healing.

“In this life there are ups and downs, we realise that there are dark days, but there are so many bright days,” said Reverend John Gillison.

“There they were in the house of the Lord, studying your word, praying with one another,” he continued. “But the devil also entered, and the devil was trying to take charge. But thanks be to God, that the devil cannot take control of your people. And the devil cannot take control of your church.”

He added that the victims of the attack have “gone on before us” but that “we will also be going one day”.

Thousands of hand-written messages covered white banners at the church’s entrance, reading “God Bless,” or “Thank you Sen. Rev. Clementa Pinckney. You will 4ever be an inspiration,” referring to the church’s pastor, a state senator who was one of the victims.

Bouquets of flowers, teddy bears and balloons covered the sidewalk while hundreds of people lined up to mourn, sing hymns and leave memorials. At 10am church bells were rang in unison across Charleston as a sign of unity.

The suspect in the attack, Dylann Roof, was arrested on Thursday and has been charged with nine counts of murder. Authorities say he spent an hour in an evening Bible study group at the church before opening fire.

Federal investigators are examining a racist manifesto apparently written by Roof that surfaced on a website on Saturday. The site featured photos and white supremacist writings, as well as an “explanation” by the author for taking some unspecified action.