Historical Vignette: Charles Roy Angell, ‘pastor’s pastor'

C. Roy Angell served as pastor of Central Baptist Church in Miami from 1936 to 1962. He was probably the best known Southern Baptist preacher in his day to serve in the state of Florida.

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Angell began his tenth year at Central Baptist Church by preaching the first sermon he had preached in the church as pastor. The title of his sermon was “The Second Mile.” In these ten years the Miami church had grown from 687 members to 4,110 members.

Central Baptist Church was the renamed church that organized as the Lemon City Baptist Church May 6, 1896. W. C. Stanton was the organizer of the church and later Stanton Memorial Baptist Church was named after him. The Lemon City Baptist Church changed its name to First Baptist Church of Miami, and then to Central Baptist Church.

Angell (1889-1971) was born at Boone Mill, Va., October 8, 1889. He was a graduate of the University of Richmond (B.A.), Pennsylvania University (M.A.), Crozier Theological Seminary (B.D.), and John Hopkins University (Ph.D.). He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Stetson University.

Broadman Press published five volumes of Angell’s sermons (1953-1968). He wrote Iron Shoes, Shields of Brass, The Price Tags of Life, God’s Gold Mines, and Rejoicing on Great Days. Angell was probably the greatest sermon illustrator that Southern Baptists have ever known. He read widely and his sermons reflected it.

Angell was a regular speaker at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly from 1937 to 1960. He served as vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1945-1946), president of the Florida Baptist State Convention (1949), and a trustee at the Baptist hospital in Miami and at Stetson University. In 1951 he preached the annual sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention.

Angell married Ilma Meade of Elizabeth City, N.C., October 8, 1915. They had three children; Charles Roy, Jr., Pattye Kathryn, and Ilma Louise. Before moving to Miami, Angell served as pastor at Elizabeth City, N.C.; First Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va.; Fulton Avenue Baptist Church, Baltimore, Md.; First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La., and First Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas.

C. Roy Angell was a preacher’s preacher. He knew pastors and pastoral work. He spoke to the heart and led Central Baptist in beginning many mission churches in Miami. His emphasis was communication and people understood him when he preached.

Florida Baptists can feel and express pride in the preaching and pastoral legacy of Dr. Angell and his work in the Miami area.

This is 12th in a series of historical articles.