Lexington church holds vigil for victims in Charleston shooting

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Pain is being felt across the county after the tragedy in Charleston and people in Lexington are showing their support.

The vigil was held Thursday evening at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church on North Upper Street and they opened their doors to the community for a place to pray.

“We as a community, in the AME church, are a very connectional church,” says Rev. William Hale, the Pastor at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. “We find ourselves as an entire church worldwide grieving with the Emmanuel community, trying to get a sense of what they are going through.”

“This is one of those spur of the moment things,” Hale says. “It’s one of those things that you can’t wait for until tomorrow, we need to be in prayer right now for the entire [church] family.”