The Revd Samuel Carnell Highway: 1935-2026

Minister who was deeply committed to the Baptist Union and had a love of radio as a way of communicating the Gospel

The Revd Samuel Carnell Highway was born in the West Midlands town of Wednesbury in 1935.

As a young man he came to faith at Wednesbury Baptist Church and soon felt God’s call on his life to enter the Baptist ministry.

After marrying Anne, a Ward Sister at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, they moved to Cardiff for Sam to begin training at South Wales Baptist College. Sam enjoyed his training and made lifelong friends while studying at the college. He was always grateful to Dr. Ithel Jones, the College Principal, who fostered and encouraged his vocation to Baptist ministry.

After successfully completing his ministerial training, Sam accepted a call to return to the Midlands to minister at Foleshill Baptist Church in Coventry. At the time the city was in the process of being rebuilt after the devastation of the Second World War and the young couple and their growing family were warmly welcomed as they began their new ministry.

Within a few years Sam embarked on his second ministry which took him south to the beautiful town of Chipping Sodbury on the edge of the Cotswolds. There he discovered his love of radio as a way of communicating the Gospel. Under the enthusiastic care of the Revd Andy Radford (later to become Bishop of Taunton) Sam was part of BBC Radio Bristol’s ‘Thought for the Day’ team  and helped organise open air broadcast services on Chipping Sodbury High Street.

In 1979, Sam and Anne retuned to Cardiff to undertake ministry, firstly at Albany Road Baptist Church and later at Tredegarville Baptist Church. While in Cardiff Sam continued to work in radio on various religious programs at Radio Wales.

Sam would always acknowledge his ministry was a partnership with his wife Anne. Inspired by the story of Peter and Catherine Marshall in the book A Man Called Peter, together they shared a happy life in Baptist ministry. They retained a deep affection for both Coventry and Chipping Sodbury, but chose to retire in Cardiff.

In their retirement, they both played an active and full role in the Baptist churches they belonged to. Sam continued to preach and reached the landmark of 50 years in the ministry, an achievement which meant a great deal to him.

Sam passed away aged 90 less than a year after Anne’s passing and not long after being introduced to his first great grandchild.

Both Sam and Anne were deeply committed to the Baptist Union, attending annual conferences seeing old friends and making new ones. For them the Baptist church was very much home and no Sunday afternoon was complete without reading The Baptist Times.

Throughout his long ministry Sam faithfully answered God’s call on his life and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a family, we give thanks to God for the many blessings He poured out upon the life of Samuel Carnell Highway - Baptist minister. 
 

The Revd Andrew Highway