After leaving school, he spent three years in various forms of employment, as well as becoming involved in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
[1][2] Idle was made a deacon in the Church of England in 1965, and ordained as a priest the following year.
He returned to London in 1995, joining Christ Church, Camberwell as a part-time Associate Minister in 1997.
[1] In 1982, Idle was part of the committee who produced the hymnal Hymns for Today's Church, which featured 35 of his own compositions.
[1] Some of Idle's compositions have been inspired by contemporary events, such as "Let us run with perseverance", written for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
[1] The book launch, held at All Souls, Langham Place, coincided with Idle's 60th birthday.
[1] "Eternal light, shine in my heart" has been included in The Hymnal 1982, Together in Song, and Voices United,[3] while "God, we praise you!