Sometimes, a calling, soft at first, has to build up momentum and just… trumpet.

Fr. Edwin Beckham was installed officially this week at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in Islip, as the new rector to the apparent glee of his congregation. But his journey involved a thoughtful, winding road to his pastoral position until ignoring that pull wasn’t an option.

Actually, he started out as a Presbyterian.

The revelatory Celtic Pilgrimage trip last year—with 15 members of his church and others both locally and from other states—following the steps of monks Saints Aiden, Cuthbert and Bede, was his idea. The group visited gorgeous holy sites and islands, ancient abbeys, and churches in Scotland and northern England.

He is also overseeing his bishop’s call, Creation Care, to consider partners in sustainability. St. Mark’s is about to sign a final contract for the installation of 85 solar panels on the roof of the chapel and offices. And a proposal is in the works to entice ecumenical houses of worship to also agree to installing solar panels to get a better price.

“We’re the first out of 10 inner-faith houses of worship in the area to get the solar panels,” he said.

There’s also the Mission Action Plan Map meeting coming up in May. “We’re having frank and open conversations on what else we have to do in the community and ways to support those who are vulnerable,” he said.

It’s a robust church. St. Mark’s received Islip Bulletin’s 2022 Inspiration Award for their outreach with numerous activities.

Asked about his impression of the congregants, laughter is a frequent activity.

“It’s not a brooding group,” he joked.

As for how he got to this place in his life, “I didn’t hear a voice from heaven, or get struck by a lightning bolt,” he said in his office, although he did grow up in the church and attended weekly Bible classes as a teen “It was a gradual process of trying to find that work that engaged.

“In the beginning, I thought I’d be an audio engineer,” he said of his first choice. “I loved music and loved playing it, but had no expertise as a musician. However, I liked the technology involved with making it.”

He attended Georgia Tech, then left his engineering course of study, landing at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., for a bachelor’s degree in history.

Two occurrences nailed down his passion.

“I got energized in 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down. I was on a school program in Munich and had decided to teach American history because the Europeans knew theirs so well, and that’s not the case here.”

Studying World War I, World War II and civil rights, he was especially affected by the accounts of racism heaped on Blacks. 

The second push emerged from a research paper. “My first research paper was about the Red Summer of 1919. (A violent outbreak against Blacks that took place in 26 cities.) I realized I wanted to work with people in real time, instead of researching books, to help make things better for individuals and the community.”

(He’s currently leading his parish with the Diocese’s Antiracism and Racial Justice Movement for the Uncovering Parish Histories Project.)

He worked for the American Historical Association on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and was on the road to becoming a history professor, working on his post-graduate degree at University of Georgia and University of Maryland.

There was a segue when he left graduate school to take a technical writer’s job for a large company.

“I had a newborn and school debt, so I took a few years and after working, praying and taking care of my family, I left the doctorate program,” he said. Along the way, he encountered mentors who encouraged him. It took a couple more starts and stops, but he became an Episcopal priest in 2008 and committed to two parishes: the first was in Athens, Ga., then Covington.

He came to St. Mark’s with his wife last year as a priest in charge. Married to his wife Laura for 33 years, they have two children.

The beauty and historic status of this church wasn’t lost on them. William K. Vanderbilt was appointed to erect a new church building in 1879. Richard Morris Hunt was the architect for the church and rectory. (It was consecrated in 1880.) In 1890, the church was enlarged, thanks to Vanderbilt. The wood, luminous Tiffany windows, and upended hull of a Viking ship, are stunning.

There’s a total membership of about 400, with 80 people who come regularly each week, Beckham said.

The affection for Fr. Beckham was evident in the church overflow on Sunday. The new rector is a humble man, thoughtful in his manner, kind.

History is still in his blood. (It doesn’t get much better than St. Mark’s; he’s the 13th rector.)

The induction celebration was presided over by Bishop Lawrence Provenzano, the current bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island; other local clergy attended.

Fr. Beckham chose an epistle from Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-16 that, as Bishop Provenzano said, “is a call for members of the church to seek out places where renewal will change lives.”

After several signs of ministry were presented by church members, including a Bible, apron, food, and keys, Bishop Provenzano made the announcement: “Sisters and brothers, welcome the new rector and his family!”

The applause—loud, joyful, and embracing—lasted for several minutes.