Lantern

Set just under the spire, the lantern was named for its function as the spot from where a lantern or spotlight could be shown at night. It often resembled a smaller variation of the belfry, with louvered windows and similarly elaborate decoration. Not every steeple has a lantern—in Boston's Old South Meeting House and other structures, the spire rises directly from the belfry. Still, lanterns were very common in early American steeples; they added height and visual interest and helped ease the transition from the square tower to the soaring spire.