Illustrated Dictionary of British Churches - Spire Definition

History and Architecture

Spire

A tapering structure on top of a church tower, usually conical or pyramidal in shape. The word comes from the old Saxon word for spear, and certainly a very slender spire might be tought to resemble a spear. One variant is a broach spire, with the spire set atop a square tower. The spire is often topped by a weather vane, flag, or cross.

Related: Broach Spire  




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This northern British kingdom was formed the merger of Bernicia and Deira in the 6th century



12 July, 1174

Henry II is punished at Canterbury for Becket's murder

Henry fasts and allows himself to be scourged as penance for his role in Becket's death

This monarch died at the abbey of St Gervais, near Paris



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