Grieving villagers have packed the local church in Soham for a special service for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
The parents of the 10-year-olds are still waiting for confirmation that two bodies found at a remote beauty spot in Suffolk are their missing daughters.
The Rev Tim Alban Jones, vicar of Soham, opened the service at the parish church of St Andrew's.
Hundreds of church-goers, many wiping tears from their eyes, joined in hymns and prayers. The church usually has a congregation of about 60, but can hold between 350 to 450 people.
Addressing the congregation, Mr Alban Jones said the disappearance of Jessica and Holly had affected everyone in Soham. He said they had been "our first thought in the morning and last thought every night.
"Throughout this devastating fortnight we have had the images of Holly and Jessica etched on our minds. Pictures of their happy, smiling faces have been displayed in just about every window in town," he said.
He spoke of the "searing, heart-rending agony" that the girls' parents had been going through and described their "bravery and dignity". He added: We cannot even begin to imagine how harrowing this nightmare has been for them."
Mr Alban Jones said there was not a single member of the Soham community who had not been moved by the girls' disappearance. He said: "The whole town feels violated by the disappearance of Jessica and Holly."
One of the parishioners, Hazel Jackson, 20, said she knew Jessica and described her as a "gorgeous little girl and full of life".
Leaving the service, she said: "They were both such good children. It was a beautiful service and it was really good to see everyone in the village out because it had been so quiet - no children."
PA