why do churches have steeples?

Question

what is the symbology of steeples

Answer 1

The original reason for steeples was very practical, not symbolic at all.

Steeples originated about AD 600 as bell towers (patterned after military watch towers). The bells were used to notify people, e.g., of special times of the day (for prayer, etc). They also served to mark the location of the church.

Only gradually were these bell towers incorporated into the larger structure of church buildings, eventually rising above the main structure. This, of course, enabled them to even better fuflill their purposes as markers and for giving public notification, The points of steeples is more of a stylstic refinement.

Given the final location of these bell/clock-housing structures it is not surprising that they have been used as symbols of 'pointing heavenward'. But eveything suggests this symbolism came AFTERWARD, and does not in any way explain the origin of the structures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeple_(architecture)
http://archives.stupidquestion.net/sq72999steeples.html


There was a popular book by Ralph Woodrow that attempted to link many other features of churches and church practice with ancient pagan customs. It included th notion that the steeple goes back to phallic symbols of pagan (esp. Babylonian) religions. But Woodrow has since recanted and written another book in which he examines the claims that led to his earlier views and shows that there is little, often no, evidence for them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Woodrow
http://www.amazon.com/Babylon-Connection-Ralph-Woodrow/dp/0916938174
(see the author's own description of the book)

Answer 2

It was an easy way to distinguish a place of worship from the local tavern, for one, and it also marked civilization in newly developing territories. In some places, travelers would see the steeple over the trees before they saw the town signs.

It was also a cheap way to bring to mind the large stone cathedrals of big cities, with their rising towers and ledges. The idea, there, also being the church needed to be easily identified by travelers and seen from any place in the city as a sign of hope. Ancient cultures built their important religious and government buildings on hills, but in places were hills were not easily found, the building needed to be large.

~~ Abaddon

Answer 3

The steeple is very similar to what the egyptians did with the pyramids. They reach up to the sky to be closer to their chosen diety.

Answer 4

You got to put the bell someplace.