Church spires
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
We were discussing church spires recently. They were once prominent landmarks but now are frequently overshadowed by taller constructions.
They point the way to heaven and often house bells, whose clamour calls the faithful to worship.
The spire of Salisbury Cathedral has been the tallest in the United Kingdom since 1561, after the collapse of St Paul’s spire after a fire. In 2018, it gained attention in the press through being visited by two Russians, apparently on a sightseeing tour and wishing to see it for themselves. It transpired that they were military intelligence agents, intent on using Novichok to murder Sergei Skripal, a Russian double agent spying for Britain.
Salisbury is one of only three cathedrals in the country that does not have a ring of bells.
There is more information here about the building, including the modern font of 2008 designed by William Pye.
Authors inspired by Salisbury Cathedral include Thomas Hardy, William Golding, and Ken Follett, among others. The great gothic building has also inspired artists including John Constable, J.M.W. Turner, Henry Moore, and Antony Gormley.
I guessed that must be constable, from the wading cow! He loves cows in ponds.
ReplyDeleteThe view will have changed somewhat now!
DeleteI think Edward Rutherford did a book on Salisbury cathedral
ReplyDeleteHe did, 'Sarum.'
DeleteCheeky Russians plotting murder in a house of worship!
ReplyDeleteDevious!
DeleteIt is sad that the modern buildings (mostly not lovely in my opinion) are often towering above the spires.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many modern tall structures will survive as long as older, more beautiful (in my opinion) buildings.
DeleteWonderful painting. I'm very fond of spires.... Not much to see in that regard in these parts.
ReplyDeleteSpires are . . . inspiring . . . 😧
DeleteGosh, I didn't know churches could exist without bells, or at least one bell. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteIt does seem strange.
DeleteNo bells? Well, no call to church then. Stay home folks. The most impressive English church spire I saw was Chesterfield. It was one of those travel moments I never forget and was genuinely excited about.
ReplyDeleteMoments like that last forever.
DeleteIt's an impressive building. Here the churches often have round roofs. All our local small churches have tall Cypress trees growing around them. They are tall and pointy, natural spires, pointing to heaven
ReplyDeleteCypress tree are stately, beautiful trees.
DeleteI've never been to Salisbury, but I do have a thing about churches, chapels, cathedrals, minsters... on walks or hikes in the woods, when we come across a chapel, O.K. knows he'll have to stop and wait for me to explore what there is to be explored.
ReplyDeleteKen Follett's Pillars of the Earth is one of my favourite books. I happened to read it when I came to Ripon for the first time many years ago, and it tied in so well with visiting Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey.
Religious buildings hold so much history and the architecture is often spectacular.
DeleteThat is certainly a very impressive spire. It can be seen for miles around.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we travel that way, we see the spire long before we reach the city.
DeleteAn impressive looking church. I've always like the look of the spires.
ReplyDeleteThere's something very comforting and reliable about spires.
DeleteI will just go ahead and say it if no one else will dare.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring post!
I can’t help myself.
See you later.
Tee hee!
DeleteThat painting by Constable is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI recall visiting Salisbury, some years ago now, lots to see but parking wasn't easy!
All the best Jan
It has a Park and Ride system, but as we're always just passing through, I can't comment on how good or otherwise it is.
DeleteIn days of yore, what soaring ambition builders of important ecclesiastical buildings possessed. Quite mind boggling really - as was the wealth that enabled such constructions to happen.
ReplyDeleteJust consider Sagrada Familia and how much that has cost/is costing.
DeleteChurches here are closing by the day as their congregations die away and are not replaced by an infusion of youth. The buildings slowly fall into disrepair and there is no money to repairs crumbling steeples. A church in a village near us has been converted into a dual retail facility, a book store and a toy shop.
ReplyDeleteOur defunct churches are deconsecrated and put to other uses, which is better than letting them crumble.
DeleteWhat a truly magnificent church. And the painting! Seriously, KGB types in 2018? I guess I hoped all that evil was over, in my shell like ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThe Russians tried to eliminate through poisoning one of their own and his daughter - Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Sergei was a former Russian military officer. Instead, they killed an innocent Englishwoman - Dawn Sturgess.
DeleteWe all hope that the dark days are behind us, but they keep popping up, in one form or another.
ReplyDeleteI love the architecture of churches though I am don't like what goes on inside many of them.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful building.
It is very striking, from all angles.
DeleteStudying English literature at University level way back in the early 1980s, I read William Golding's The Spire. I can't say I really remember the plot now, but I do remember that it was based on the construction of the Salisbury Cathedral spire. At the back of my paperback copy of the book, I have a hand-drawn sketch of what the various parts of the cathedral are called, and also a list of other words used in the book that I looked up and learned. Our literature teacher that term was a young Englishman who had himself studied English Literature at Oxford. He kept being astonished at our lack of knowledge of all things "Classic" (not only cathedrals, but also for example Greek and Roman mythology...) Some words I had to look up in the first three chapters (out of twelve): mattins, gutter, smoulder, adze, ember, tallow, chantry, slops, jerkin, contrition, hodman, sacrist, statute, scriptorium, battlement, buttress, canon (title), reticient, inscrutable, lichen, gargoyle, moulding, pinnacle, scaffold, maul, trestle, spate, belligerent... (Some of them I'd have to look up again now...)
ReplyDeleteThat's the arrogance of the English, expecting everyone else in the world to understand. I'm sure you still have a much greater understanding than many native Brits.
DeleteWhen I was in 4th grade (9 years old) the steeple of the parish church had to be replaced. The Monsignor and head of the parochial school across the street, had all us children sit on the front lawn of the school to watch the cranes lift the steeple into place. He said it was something that was a once in a life-time event. The steeple wasn't marbled spired. It was more or less a modern copper piece. Still pretty cool to watch that construction.
ReplyDeleteThat was quite an experience and not soon forgotten.
DeleteThe spire of Salisbury Cathedral remains an enduring symbol of faith and history, rising above centuries of art, literature, and even modern intrigue.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wondrous sight.
DeleteThink of ancestors who designed and toiled and maintained those structures meant to inspire...imagine them time traveling to now and what do they see: Wal-marts & Costco's. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWe have lost our awe and wonder.
ReplyDelete