As the nation mourns the deaths of the nine victims of the Charleston church massacre, the Washington National Cathedral will toll its mourning bell Thursday night.
The historic church will toll the bell nine times at 9 p.m., once for each victim of the horrific shooting.
"To our friends in Charleston, we say: We stand with you, we mourn with you and we will walk alongside you in the difficult days ahead," Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde and Very Rev. Gary Hall said in a statement.
The National Cathedral's mourning bell, also called a bourdon bell, has been tolled to honor 9/11 attack victims and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. The mourning bell is the largest of the 53 bronze bells in the carillon and produces the lowest tone, the church's website says.
Two prayer services to honor the shooting victims are scheduled for Thursday night.
Bethesda: A prayer service for Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church will be held at 7 p.m Thursday at North Bethesda United Methodist Church at 10100 Old Georgetown Rd., Rev. Jeff Jones said.
Manassas: A prayer vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at First African Methodist Episcopal Church at 10313 South Grant Ave.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones at the Emanuel shooting. We pray that peace and kindness will prevail, and we seek God’s divine guidance to bless us with guidance to prevent these tragedies," a statement issued by the church said.
To share information about other memorials, email News4.
