The tradition of steeples has been on Christian churches and cathedrals since the eighteenth century. The purposes of steeples have changed throughout history. Many reasons behind having a steeple include when people walk into the church they will look up the steeple to heaven. It directs your eye towards the heavens and to God. There are many well-known churches throughout the world that are recognized for their beautiful steeples. We are here to share the details of these famous church steeples!
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the most well-known holy sites in all of New York. The beautiful church sits in New York City in between the skyscrapers. Five million people of many different nationalities and faiths visit this cathedral every year. Over history, you can watch the city of New York grow around this iconic church.
Notre Dame de Paris, Paris, France
Notre Dame de Paris is famous for its steeple that was created between 1220-1230. The original steeple burned down in a fire on April 15, 2019. The fire began in the attic of the cathedral and before it was put out, the steeple collapsed into the building. Two days after the fire, the French Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, announced they were going to redesign the old spire. A discussion began to arise about different ways to make the new spire, but they ultimately decided to keep the original design.
Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln, England
The Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world before it collapsed in 1548. The next tallest building would be the Eiffel Tower which was not finished until 1889. The cathedral was designed with 3 steeples on top. The tallest spire was 520 feet tall. If the tallest spire had stayed intact it would have remained the tallest structure in the world until the Washington Monument was built in 1884.
Ulm Munster, Ulm, Germany
The Ulm Munster currently has the tallest steeple in Europe. It now holds the title of the tallest church in the world. When it was being created, it was designed to be taller than the Catholic Cologne Cathedral. The church has been referred to as a cathedral because of its large size, but the episcopal bishop does not have authority in this church.
Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany
This Catholic cathedral is the tallest twin spire building in Europe. The Ulm Munster still remains taller even though it does not have twin steeples. That said, the Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic-style church in Northern Europe. Because of the height of the twin spires, the Cathedral suffered fourteen bombings from aerial planes during World War II. In 1954, the damages that had been created from the war were officially fixed. The Cologne Cathedral was used as a model for the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral in Washington, DC.
Church of the Assumption, Lake Bled, Slovenia
This church is located on Bled Island in the middle of a lake surrounded by emerald green waters. It looks like a Disney Castle and you can see its beautiful steeple from across the lake. People can travel to the island by renting a boat or crossing in the Pletna which is a gondola-like boat that fits up to 20 people. The Church of Assumption is known as the church of wishes. The legend states that anyone who rings the bell and makes a wish will have their wish come true.
How We Can Help!
There are many beautiful churches and cathedrals throughout the world. The most eye-catching part of the church is the tall and beautiful steeple. At American Steeples, we aim to create your perfect steeple. From 8” steeples to over 30” steeples, we are able to make your vision come to life. Explore our products to find the best-suited steeple for you. Contact us today and let us provide you with a steeple worth making history!