A man who straddled the path of being a fiery preacher to that of an astute
businessman – Bishop Ewing Dorsett – has died.
Bishop Dorsett operated one of the most successful local businesses on High Street
for many years – Strings and Things and Schools Zone, carrying a variety of
household and educational products, making it a must-visit for parents and students
at the start of each school year. His first business was E Dorsett Corner Store on
Corn Alley and later Sights Sounds and Times, which started on Popeshead Street
and then moved twice, before finally settling on Market Street.
He would eventually become the owner of the High Street building from which he
operated, and which is now occupied by a Chinese-run supermarket.
Bishop Dorsett also built up quite a reputation as a religious leader in the Church
of Christ of Prophesy. He started preaching in his twenties and by age 28 he was
made a Bishop. In 1971, he was named Overseer. In his more than fifty years in the
ministry, he has worked in many Caribbean territories or has had administrative
responsibilities for territories as far south as Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana and
Suriname on the South American continent.
Bishop Dorsett was also a trailblazer in radio ministry with his weekly services
which he started, whilst residing in Anguilla, and continued when he returned to
Antigua and Barbuda with his Way of the Cross programme on both ZDK and
ABS Radio.
His son noted attorney, Dr. David Dorsett described him as a ‘wonderful father,’
noting that he was able to achieve things that he (Dr. Dorsett) doesn’t think he will
be able to do.
Bishop Dorsett was one of the founding members of the Antigua and Barbuda
Electoral Commission and he was also instrumental in the formation of the
Antigua and Barbuda Evangelical Association.
Bishop Ewing Dorsett died at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre on Sunday, at the
age of 80.