Ordinary people, politicians and community leaders - about 350 people in total - gathered at the Anglican Cathedral at midday yesterday for an interfaith service in solidarity with those affected by the attacks in Washington and New York.

"We meet here today to mourn the loss of those who died in yesterday's tragedy.

"Words are quite inadequate at times like this to express the depth of sorrow we feel for those so senselessly killed in New York and Washington," were Bishop Ewen Ratteray's opening words.

"The horror of it all is unimaginable in anyone's worst nightmare.

"Our hearts and our fervent prayers are with the victims, their families and all caught up in this horrid affair.

"It is indeed an incredibly sad time.

"We trust that they have great support, and that much prayer is being made for them around the world."

Besides Bishop Ratteray, representatives of seven other Christian denominations, as well as Islam, Judaism and the Baha'i faiths, offered prayers and readings.

In attendance were Premier Jennifer Smith, Governor Thorold Masefield and his wife, Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon and a number of Members of Parliament and Senators. Many wept during the one-hour service and a few stayed on in the Cathedral afterwards.

"Given the short notice there was a splendid turnout by local people as well as visitors," said Bishop Ratteray.

He agreed, when asked, that prayer was the only human response in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

"You're absolutely helpless. You can't do anything else - you can't even fly there," he told The Royal Gazette.

"It's a way of bringing before God our concerns and trying to lift up those who are needy and in pain - lifting them up before God, to help them to know his presence and his power to heal.

"Related to this is something I know from experience - that when people pray for you one has the sense of being supported by people's prayers."

His own response to the news of the tragedy was much like everyone else's - shock and horror.

"I still find it difficult to believe that people hate so much to kill and maim innocent people."

Finding the right words was next to impossible, he added.

"Words fail ... it all ends up sounding kind of trite.

"Whatever you say doesn't quite fit.

"It's unspeakably horrible."