Church steeples have their origins in practices of many cultures and religions dating to antiquity. The true steeple of Christian churches, while drawing inspiration from antiquity including Hebrew Scriptures, arose through the combined influence of the Catholic Church and architect Sir Christopher Wren.

Antiquity

During antiquity many ancient cultures, envisioning God and heaven as existing in an upward direction, incorporated into houses of worship some type of tower.

Mixed Scriptural Response

Judaeo-Christian Scriptures give mixed response to inclusion of such structures in houses of worship. In Genesis 11 1-9 the construction of the Tower of Babel caused the Hebrew God to confound humankind's speech and scatter the inhabitants "all over the Earth;" yet in 1 Kings 7:21-22 and 1 Kings 8: 12-13 God accepts the Temple of Solomon incorporating two pillars as his Earthly dwelling place.

Greco-Roman Influence

Because Greeks perceived divine presence as more outward and even downward as described in "The Pagan Origins of the Church Steeple" at Thedissidentblog.wordpress.com, the epoch of Greco-Roman cultural dominance saw a decline in the use of towers for places of worship.

Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church's influence during the Byzantine and Romanesque periods once again produced a worldview that encouraged use of pointed-top, tower like structures as suitable as a worship aid.

Gothic Influence

True steeples as we know them as of January 2010 came about through English innovation and particularly the architectural dominance of Sir Christopher Wren according to "The Pagan Origins of the Church Steeple" at Thedissidentblog.wordpress.com.

Source:

"The Pagan Origins of the Church Steeple"

"Steeples and the Church"