Photos from the first service since the attack

The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church,Charleston, in the US city of South Carolina welcomed hundreds of people who came visiting after the church reopened its doors to worshippers, four days after nine black church members were shot to death.

Outside the church, the oldest African-American congregation in the southern US, bouquets, bears and balloons covered the pavement while hundreds of people lined up to mourn, sing hymns and leave memorials.

See gallery for the photos from the service.