The Rev. William Doggett, “Bill,” is the associate rector at Christ Church-Washington Parish on G Street SE. He has been ministering there since he moved to the Hill almost eight years ago, soon after he changed his life’s direction by becoming a priest.

Bill did not always know he wanted to be a priest, but he always knew he loved music and theater. He came by his creative talents honestly. His mother, who made a living as a watercolorist and was also an expert embroiderer, drew most of the paintings hanging in the living room of his Lincoln Park townhouse. At the age of 15, he and his sister started a theater company that is still in existence today. His mother designed the scenery for the productions that the Doggetts built in their backyard. When his family wasn’t busy doing theater, they were cleaning out the furniture in their living room to make space for the rehearsal of a 40-piece orchestra.

Bill spent his 20s and 30s enjoying life in his hometown of Livermore, Calif., teaching music and drama to high school students. In the evenings after school, Bill worked for theater companies both in the community and around the country directing productions, designing sets and costumes and conducting orchestras. One spring break Bill flew to Arkansas to paint sets for a production of the state’s opera company. In his “spare” time Bill directed the choir at an Episcopal church in his community. “During that time people asked me, ‘Do you ever think about being a priest?’ I said, ‘No. No!’ I eventually realized there was something behind the No’s.” He studied theology, and at almost 40 years of age, he entered the seminary.

“Sometimes God has to show you what your heart’s desire is before he can give it to you.” Bill’s calling to the priesthood came through his love of music and theater. He was ordained in 1997.

Never one to let any moss grow under his feet, Bill was open for a new adventure. Not long after he was ordained, his life partner, Matt, received a job opportunity in Washington, DC. They were both excited about the prospect of moving across the country.

“We ended up living on Capitol Hill to our delight, but by accident.” In February 1999, at the height of the housing shortage, Matt and Bill had the crazy idea they could come to DC for a weekend and buy a house. “There were only about 30 houses for sale in the entire city. We looked at all of them. The only one we would consider was the one that we bought.”

Their house on the south side of Lincoln Park was far from perfect. It totally had to be gutted. “We decided naively that we could live in it during renovation. One of the great things about moving into a house that needed work is that it immersed us deeply into the Capitol Hill community.

“I grew up in a small, close-knit town and didn’t expect to find that kind of life in DC, but Capitol Hill reminds me of home.” Bill also discovered a community within a community – dog owners on the Hill. Scout, his golden retriever, made many friends in Lincoln Park and Congressional Cemetery, which is owned by Christ Church.

His first day on the job at the church was one that Bill will not soon forget. The rector asked him, “What do you know about exorcisms? We’re doing one on Thursday.”

“They don’t teach you anything about exorcisms in the seminary,” said Bill. “But I knew who to call.” He got the names of two books on Anglican exorcisms that he thankfully found in the Library of Congress. He cleared the ceremony with the bishop and did it.

Five years ago, Matt and Bill expanded their family with the adoption of their son, Kevon. They discovered another community on the Hill through parenting. Their family was not yet complete. They fostered a boy Dominic who became like a brother to Kevon. Even though Dominic now lives with his grandparents, he spends most weekends and vacations with Bill, Matt and Kevon.

Another project of which he is proud is the forthcoming publication of a new hymnal this June with three hymns he wrote.

Bill’s work in the theater often included costume design. Even before he was a priest, Bill made vestments for the priests in his church. That skill has been useful to him at Christ Church. One of the projects of which he is most proud is the one he worked on jointly with the quilting group at Christ Church. “I collected beautiful fabrics and asked each woman to make a square. The designs and patterns were amazing.” Bill created the design and sewed them together into vestments that the church now uses at Easter. “It’s nice to find that when you get called to do something new, you can use old skills.” Kevon’s school enlisted him to create costumes for its production of the musical “The Wiz.”

One way Bill likes to relax is by cooking. He is teaching his son how to prepare Chinese food, Kevon’s favorite. Bill enjoys creating a broad range of dishes and has had fun the past two years being a host cook for the annual literary dinner fundraiser. One year he selected the book “Don Quixote” and made a tapas dinner. This past year he selected a “Tale of Two Cities” and made a dinner that was half French and half English.

Another way Bill relaxes is by pulling out the woodwinds, teaming up with a friend and playing chamber music.