Remembering The Reverend Dr. Cynthia Engle, former Rector of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Pauls

The Reverend Dr. Cynthia L. Engle, former Rector of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Prairie View passed away on July 2, 2022 at her home in Cypress, Texas.  Her two children, Brian and Christine was by her side as they had been following her health failings beginning in Summer of 2021.

Funeral service for Reverend Engle is set for July 20 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 414 E McAlpine St, Navasota, TX 77868 - (936) 825-7726.   Condolences may be sent to: The Family of Cynthia Engle, P. O. Box 2309, Cypress, TX 77410-2309.

Reverend served as Rector of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church from July 1, 2011 to August 31, 2019. She previously served a two-year stint as Deacon and Priest with St. Mark's in Beaumont, where she covered all aspects of Parish Ministry and the implementation of Stephen Ministry.

Engle also served as Rector of St. Paul’s Navasota, concurrently with St. Francis.  As rector for both churches, Engle brought her experiences in virtually every aspect of Church life, including officiating, preaching, music ministry, worship leadership, altar guild, Lay Eucharistic Ministry, acolytes, cross-cultural outreach with international communities in USA and England working with the homeless, hospital and chaplaincy. The members benefited from the rich experiences which broadened their commitment to being servants of Christ to the communities at large.  Reverend Engle is remembered for her true love of the animals in tribute to the Patron Saint Francis of Assisi.  She looked forward to the blessings of the animals that was also extended to stuffed animals that the children would bring to the event.

She began her professional career as a music teacher in Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District and completed stints with the Corpus Christi Independent School District, Corpus Christi and Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi. Her other experiences include serving as an Adjunct Professor of Old Testament at the Fuller Theological Seminary Regional Campuses (Texas, California, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona); Tutorial supervisions in Hebrew grammar and text, Cambridge, UK; Teaching Assistant, Old Testament and Greek tutorials, Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA, teaching at the Philharmonic Summer Workshops in Laredo. Her other experiences include stints with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Service in Phoenix, AZ and the Bethlehem Haven Shelter for Women in Pittsburgh, PA.

Reverend Engle’s service in the ministry began in 1996 in Arizona where she served as Director for Ioize Worship Group in the Diocese of Arizona, followed with services as a Volunteer Lay Chaplain with St. Luke's Medical Center in Phoenix, Pastoral Assistant, Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, Cave Creek, Director of Christian Education, Christ Church of the Ascension and Deacon, Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley, Arizona. She also completed medical missions to Diocese of Honduras, Central America.

In 2008, Reverend Engle returned to Texas and was ordained a Deacon in December 2008 in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. She received her ordination in December 2009.

Engle holds the Bachelor of Music from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Master of Divinity from Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA and the Ph.D. in Old Testament from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England and certificates in continuing education in Hebrew Reading from Fuller Seminary Southwest and Languages from Phoenix College in Phoenix, Arizona.

She is the recipient of many awards including academic grants and scholarships from Trinity in Cambridge and Selwyn College and Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, Fuller Seminary Southwest and Mercer, the Board of Women Graduates and the Outstanding Greek Award from Trinity School for Ministry.

As a musician, she’s enjoyed a lifelong and ongoing freelance musical performances with Music Societies at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, the Mesa Symphony, Mesa, AZ, Symphony North Houston, Corpus Christi Symphony, the Laredo Philharmonic and the Prairie View A&M University Symphonic Band.

Engle was born in Waco and grew up in Houston. She has a son Brian, who taught gymnastics and daughters Christine, a stylist and theatre director, and a foster daughter Heather Ryland, an artist.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com for the Engle family.