Retiree puts talent to work as stained-glass craftsman

Lamp said the church is very missionary-oriented.

“As you know, our mission is to share the gospel with the whole world and demonstrate in love the reality of Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit,” Bishop David Huskins, pastor of the church, told Lamp.

“Your work has taken this mission and made it visible; each time we enter our narthex, we will be reminded of what our focus and mission must be.”

Lamp has been working in stained glass as a hobby for 20 years. He started through a craft show at the local mall, and later took classes in Altoona, Pa. From there, he started creating sun catchers, small panels for windows, then cabinet doors and lamps.

“I’m a little artistic. I can draw and things like that,” said Lamp, noting that he often creates his own designs.

“We have pattern books we go by, but people always want something personal, so we end up drawing and making custom patterns.”

Lamp said his wife, Ruth, helps him in the process of the Tiffany style by placing foil around the glass. She also helps with patterns and cutting the glass.

Lamp is retired from Allegany College of Maryland’s maintenance department. He calls his business Lamps Classic Stained Glass. Formerly it was named Lasting Reflections.

“Actually I have a shop in my basement. Most always I take my books and so forth and go there, measure, let them look at patterns, take samples of glass. I don’t keep things ahead. People always want something different,” said Lamp.