Constable Mncedi Mbombo says the incident happened around 9:30 pm in the church at the corner of Singapi and Gunguluza Street in New Brighton.
He says a 51 year old woman left the church after the evening service.
Minutes after she left, church members heard gun shots outside and moments later the woman ran back inside.
She was followed by an unknown man with a gun in his hand and he shot her several times before fleeing on foot.
Constable Mbombo says the woman was rushed to hospital where she is in a critical but stable condition.
Police are appealing to the public to come forward with the information that can help them to arrest the suspect.
