People were called upon to remember their humanity and turn to their neighbours for comfort as Bermuda held a day of mourning.

Faith leaders across the island left their doors open from dawn until dusk yesterday, with many visiting Bermuda’s churches throughout the day.

One woman who took to the pulpit at The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton lamented “the danger that many of us see on the streets of Bermuda in this place that is so beautiful”.

She added: “We cry for mercy as we hear of one tragedy after another.

“We feel weak and powerless to do anything about what we’re seeing because it’s too big for us.”

The day of mourning was held after Bermuda saw six violent deaths this month.

It also started hours after a woman was shot multiple times while riding a motorcycle, leaving her in a critical condition at time of publication.

The cathedral held an hour-long vigil at noon led by the Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, the Anglican Bishop of Bermuda.

The vigil saw several people join for prayers and scripture readings, some of which were led by Bishop Dill, while other attendees were offered a chance to share their thoughts.

Many also attended to light a candle and take a black armband to show solidarity.

Glenn Fubler, who attended the vigil, said that the grief of this month’s death felt compounded by the late-night shooting.

He added that, through his time serving the community, he initially felt that Bermuda had been making a turn away from violence — but in recent years had started to dip again.

Despite this, Mr Fubler reminded the public that Bermuda had an innate “sense of neighbourliness” and mutual respect.

He added: “If we remember that these are our roots, then what we can do is look for ways to return to those roots and enliven what is dormant in us.”

Mr Fubler also encouraged those who felt lost, angry, sad or alone to reach out to a friend within the community.

Bishop Dill said that most people felt “disbelief” over this month’s spate of violence, particularly in light of the previous night’s shooting.

He said that the “callousness” of the incident was particularly shocking.

Bishop Dill added that he felt “a spirit of anger and death” over the island.

He said: “There’s something in the atmosphere which is very prevalent.

“Everybody I speak to, whether they come to church or not, has this feeling of heaviness about them over this series of events.”

Bishop Dill said that he was reminded of a colleague in Glasgow who, during a time of intense gang violence, approached the mothers of those involved.

He said that the women later joined forces with one another and directly put a stop to the problem.

Bishop Dill said he believed Bermuda could do a similar thing.

He added: “It’s that kind of groundswell of feeling that I’m hoping will be generated by these kinds of situations and people will recognise that they don’t have to live in fear, they don’t have to put up with it and they can speak out and say something.

“I’m just aware that we live in a world where darkness is alongside light and I just think the more light we shine, the more we may provoke darkness but, at the same time, the more it will bring hope.”