A body was recovered from the River Brent on Monday night.
Police have confirmed it was that of the 14-year-old, who was last seen more than four weeks ago.
Rev Steve Newbold is from nearby St Stephen's Church in West Ealing.
Search area by River Brent
He said: "We'd all been hoping and praying that there would be a different outcome.
"People in the community and in the church have been actively working to secure Alice's return through putting yellow ribbons and posters up.
"There's a great sense of shock and sadness."
Police have been searching the area for a number of weeks.
A reconstruction was staged last week after her parents talked of the anguish they felt every day she was missing.
Rev Helen Cosstick is from St Mary's Parish Church, Hanwell; a congregation that has been praying for Alice and her family since she disappeared.
She said: "Pray for the family and the pain they're feeling.
"No matter how much they might have expected this, it will be a huge, huge shock.
"And for the police who have been so diligent...and we must always hold them in our prayers.
"For the community itself, to come to some realisation and making sense of this."
"And for justice - we need to pray for that too."
Stephen Pound, the Labour MP for Ealing North, has paid tribute to police efforts in the search for Alice.
Police will continue their investigation and formal identification of the body is expected to take place later.
Listen to Premier's Paul Hagger's full interview with Rev Helen Cosstick from St Mary's Church, Hanwell:
Hear Rev Steve Newbold from St Stephen's Church speaking to Premier's Paul Hagger: