A Stained-Glass Window by Colum Sharkey
In First Reformed UCC Church, Lancaster:

Above: Window by Colum Sharkey at First Reformed UCC Church

Above: Colum Sharkey at work. Image source: Willethauser.tumblr

Columcille “Colum” J. Sharkey (1922 - 2001) created just one stained-glass window for First Reformed Church. It is the church’s most recent window. It was installed in 1987. At that time Colum Sharkey was the head designer for Willet Stained Glass Studio in Philadelphia.
Colum Sharkey was born in Dublin, Ireland, into a stained-glass family. His father, Edwin Joseph Sharkey, emigrated to Philadelphia when Colum was an infant. Colum attended art school in Philadelphia and then apprenticed to his father’s stained-glass studio. Colum took over the family studio when his father passed in 1952. Later, in 1967, he joined the Willet Studio in Philadelphia as a glass designer. He was with the Willet Studio for much of his career, for 34 years.
Sharkey’s designs for Willet windows appear in many churches throughout the U. S. He also designed a 1994 window of St. Cecilia for Lancaster’s St. James Episcopal Church.

Colum Sharkey’s Windows
for St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, Philadelphia:

Elsewhere: Windows by Colum Sharkey’s Father
Edwin J. Sharkey:

Above: Colum Sharkey’s father, Edwin Sharkey, designing a stained-glass window ca. 1931. Image source: Lisa Weilbacker, U. of Penn thesis

Above: Window by Edwin Sharkey at Metropolitan Memorial Church, Washington D. C. Image source: Jim Hauser / Flickr.

Above: Windows designed by Colum Sharkey’s father, Edwin Joseph Sharkey, at Metropolitan Memorial Church, Washington D. C. Apparently influenced by the stained-glass windows of Irish artist Harry Clarke.
Edwin Joseph Sharkey (1879 - 1952) was born in Birmingham, England. His father, Richard Sharkey, had moved there from Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland. Young Edwin Sharkey apprenticed as an ecclesiastical artist in Birmingham before opening his own stained-glass business there. In 1916 he moved to Dublin to work with artist John Tierney. His son Colum Sharkey was born during that time.
The Sharkey family emigrated to Philadelphia in the 1920s. Here the father, Edwin Sharkey, was a designer with Nicola D’Ascenzo’s stained-glass studio from 1923 to 1934. He then opened his own glass shop.
Edwin Sharkey was an enthusiastic member of Philly’s Gaelic Arts Society. He taught classes in the Gaelic language and lectured on Irish arts and history. Meanwhile, his stained-glass design was being influenced by Ireland’s most celebrated stained-glass artist, Harry Clarke.

Elsewhere:
Ireland’s Premier Stained-Glass Artist
Harry Clarke:

Above: Chancel angels designed in 1928 by Ireland’s most celebrated stained-glass artist, Harry Clarke. Installed in New Jersey at St. Vincent de Paul Church. This church has the only stained glass in the U.S. by Harry Clarke. Image source: *Harry Clarke Stained Glass Windows*, St. Vincent de Paul Church.

Harry Clarke (1889 - 1931) is Ireland’s most internationally renowned artist of stained glass. His ethereal saints and angels have become icons of Irish cultural heritage. Clarke’s work apparently influenced various window designs of Colum Sharkey’s father, Edwin Sharkey.
Edwin Sharkey closely identified with his Irish roots. His son, Colum Sharkey, was less interested in his Gaelic ancestry. He had assimilated into the American dream.
So the Colum Sharkey window at First Reformed Church feels fully American and fully modern. But the window will always preserve a Gaelic memory of Colum Sharkey’s Irish birthplace.

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