Gezicht op Saint John's Church in Coln Saint Aldwyns before 1866

This photographic print of Saint John's Church was made by William Savage in the 19th century. Note the church’s spire, a soaring monument that has long been a powerful symbol. In its essence, it represents the axis mundi, the connection between the earthly and the divine. Think back to the Tower of Babel, a motif symbolizing humanity's ambition to reach the heavens, or consider the Egyptian obelisks, ancient solar symbols elongated towards the sky, both striving to bridge the gap between the human and the celestial. Over time, these forms evolved from pagan symbols to Christian signifiers, embodying a yearning for spiritual transcendence. The spire is an expression of collective hopes, dreams, and fears, rendered in stone and reaching for the heavens. It engages us on a deeply subconscious level, triggering an emotional response that transcends time. The spire continues its journey through human consciousness, constantly reinventing itself in response to the ever-changing human condition.