Good heavens! Vicar scales 40-metre spire for blessing
Brave Reverend Caroline Titley takes on inspiring church climb
Friday, 9th October — By Finn Logue
Reverend Caroline Titley on her way up
A THRILL-SEEKING vicar scaled a Barnsbury church spire the height of 10 stacked London buses to an audience of hundreds of people.
Reverend Caroline Titley, the Rector or St Andrew’s Church, ascended the 40-metre church spire for a blessing and to celebrate the successful campaign to save it from disrepair.
Historic England allocated £1million funding to the spire to begin repair works, which has seen it shrouded in scaffolding. Last Friday Rev Titley, rector of St Andrew’s Church, marked the next stage of the works with the brave climb, putting one foot in front of the other and not looking down at any point.
Reverend Titley enjoying the spectacular views across the capital
She told the Tribune: “It was a wonderful, exhilarating experience.
“It was really important not to look down or around, because it could be very distracting or disconcerting, realising how high up I was.
“Once I got to the top, there was just fantastic views all around. I could see the London Eye, the Olympic Park, virtually all the sights in London.” Rev Titley was joined by a team of five including the site manager and architect.
When she arrived at the top, she changed from her climbing gear into her vicar’s vestments. Onlookers applauded as she came down. “I was so pleased to get up and down how I did,” she said.
Reverend Titley and architect Alex Veal
“And we were so fortunate with the weather that it wasn’t raining or anything. Fortunately, I have done lots of mountain climbing so I don’t suffer from vertigo. It was all just a fantastic day, such a lovely celebration.”
Ben Lawson, who works for company Paye, who are managing the building work, said: “We were amazed at how well the Rector managed the climb. It is one of the most complex elevations we have done and is currently the best vantage point in the area.”
The church are continuing their fundraising efforts to repair the tower that holds the spire. They say they are hoping to have the repair works, scaffolding and netting removed by 2027.
