Amy Landers

Thank you for contacting me about Boston Chapel and for your interesting letter. Don't the years go by quickly? Attending Boston Chapel from 1955-1959 was an integral and valuable experience during my ENC years.

My task was to walk to the apartments in the Dover Street area, bring women and children to the Chapel, attend the services, and then take them home. Most of the stairwells were foul-smelling and dark. A few times the male students, including my future husband, voiced their concern for my safety. I wasn't brave, but I don't remember being scared because I wasn't conscious of the dangers. However, once I realized danger: occasionally another woman student and I would baby-sit for a mother so she could attend the evening service. One evening we were shocked when a man emerged from the back room, went to the kitchen, and returned to the back room. We were not alone, and we were not safe. (Bob reminded me of this incident.)

By now you must have a list of all the ENC attendees. Some of the students I remember are Walter Mullen, Mary Lou Wheeler, Ted Esselstyn, Rachel Gray and Evelyn Bass. Every Christmas I remember a solo, "I Wonder as I Wander", (Appalachian Carol) sung by a young lady who was not an ENC student. She attended the Chapel for a few months. I didn't know where she came from, nor how she knew about the Chapel.

I loved to ride the carry-all to the Chapel and walk the Dover Street area. The carry-all had a driver and I had my assignment. I had no concern or interest about the administrative decisions or responsibilities. My husband and I were not called to be missionaries to foreign countries or to the pastorate, For over fifty years we were active laymen in every ministry and all aspects of our local church, wherever we lived. Today we are blessed and thankful that our three children and our grandchildren are also active in their local churches.