The Rev. Vincent G. (Chip) Seadale has been the rector at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Edgartown only since last November and already the 49-year-old and his wife, Colleen, have immersed themselves in Island life.

“The whole thing is a blessing. I am in a honeymoon. Everything here is wonderful. Colleen and I are happy here,” he said.

The Episcopal priest has a vision of bringing new energy to the church, seeking to serve the loyal followers and open the door even wider for expanding the community of the church. His wife, Colleen works for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services as a licensed family and marriage therapist. The two have three grown children, Caitlin Grace 22; Bridget Leigh, 20; and James Vincent, 18.

“Father Chip,” as he can be informally called, succeeds the Rev. Robert D. Edmunds, who was rector for 15 years. He left the church in June of 2008 and is now serving in Jerusalem.

Last year Father Seadale was the rector at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Jacksonville, Fla., when he first learned of an opportunity to serve the parish on the corner of Winter and Summer streets in Edgartown. “The call came out of the blue in August,” he said. “In the Episcopal faith, we don’t get moved around much.”

It wasn’t a difficult jump from Jacksonville. Mr. Seadale has memories of his youth in Swampscott, where he had a job as a paper delivery boy for the Boston Globe and was brought into the spirit of New England sports — he has been a longtime fan of the Celtics and the Patriots. He also has an interest in tennis and golf.

He is a boater, too, with memories of going bluefishing with his brother Scott. The brothers also spent time together water skiing.

Mr. Seadale is a graduate from Colgate Univeristy and received a law degree from Connecticut School of Law. He worked 16 years as an attorney before answering his calling. He attended Yale University Divinity School and graduated in 2004; he has been a priest for five years.

Mr. Seadale said he and his wife came to the Island for the first time Labor Day weekend and were struck by the spiritual energy on the Island. “I was enchanted immediately. There is a lot of spirit here. As I look around I see a lot of resources for growth,” he said.

On Sundays there can be as many as 120 attending the two services.

Looking ahead, Mr. Seadale said he is enthusiastic about a program being offered to the public, shared by the St. Andrews and Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church. “During the Holy Season of Lent, we will be offering a seven-week workshop on an ancient spiritual practice known as Centering Prayer. íAccording to Father Thomas Keating, a founder of the Centering Prayer Movement and a Cistercian priest, monk and abbot, “centering prayer is an effort to renew the teaching of the Christian tradition on contemplative prayer. íIt is an attempt to present that tradition in an up-to-date form and to put a certain order and method into it.” The first workshop will take place Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Parish center in Oak Bluffs. For more information, call St. Andrew’s office at 508-627-5330.