Around 150 gathered before a makeshift altar in the Ocean City Town Council Chambers yesterday.
They were parishioners from St. Paul’s By The Sea church who showed up for the first worship service in the aftermath of the fire that killed the Reverend David Dingwall.
Many wore orange or pinned orange ribbons to their chest Dingwall’s favorite color.
His wife, Brenda, said that no matter how horrible the events were that led to her husband’s death “He was a child of God” to be kept in their prayers.
The Right Reverend James Shand, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton described Dingwall as a kind man you could talk to.
Parishioners also said prayers for 56-year old John Raymond Sterner, who, authorities say, apparently set himself on fire before entering the church’s parish house.
The fire destroyed the rectory and left a female church volunteer in serious condition at a Baltimore burn ward.
