Steeple (architecture)

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This article is about the architectural term. For other uses, see Steeple.

A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure.

The steeple of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Singapore, designed by Charles Alexander Dyce.

Steeples generally cap bell or clock towers. Towers were not a part of Christian churches until about AD 600, when they were adapted from military watchtowers. At first they were fairly modest and entirely separate structures from churches. Over time, they were incorporated into the church building and capped with ever-more elaborate roofs until the steeple resulted.

Towers are a common element of religious architecture worldwide, and are generally viewed as attempts to reach skyward toward the gods. Freudians may also see some phallic subtexts in all such structures, but this is different from claiming direct evolution from phallic objects.