Having received adult baptism in January 1780, he was set apart on 16 February for the ministry, and formed on 28 March a small Baptist church at Battle.
He accepted a call to assist Elhanan Winchester at Parliament Court, Artillery Lane, London, and began his duties on 9 February 1794.
Later in the year Winchester returned to America, and Vidler was appointed his successor, still giving half his time to Battle, till November 1796.
He retained his ministry at Parliament Court till 1815, and was succeeded after a short interval by William Johnson Fox.
His grandson, William Vidler (d. 24 March 1861), was for many years minister to the poor at Chapel Street, Cripplegate.