Just four days after horrific mass killing at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South Carolina, a service was held at 9:30 am Sunday.

Mother Emanuel as people here call the church opened its doors and people sang, cried to one another for solace after three men and six women were left in a bloody pile in its basement Worshipers seek solace after the Wednesday night tragedy at the church.

According to authorities, a 21-year-old young man named Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina shot and killed the people he'd sat with for Bible study at the church. He told investigators he did it to start a race war.

For some parishioners, it was too soon to return. However, Felicia Breeland, a retired music teacher and third-generation member of Emanuel, said she never considered staying home.

He said, "I wanted to come. That gunman could not change us from coming together and having our church service".

During the service, security was tight and police stationed around the church and near the pulpit. Backpacks and cameras weren't nor allowed.

When the sanctuary was full, worshipers were gone downstairs to the fellowship hall, where the Rev. Clementa Pinckney and eight others were shot.

Hundreds of people were out on the street and listened to the proceedings over loudspeakers. There were curious tourists and others who listened intently, raising their hands in prayer.

At 10 am, churches of all denominations across Charleston rang their bells in a gesture that would send a healing message of unity and love to the world. The bells tolled for nine minutes throughout Charlesto as the choir sang 'Blessed Assurance'.