Tin Tabernacle

A "tin tabernacle" (aka Iron Church) was a prefabricated church or chapel built from corrugated iron and timber. They were sold as kits in the mid to late 19th century, after it became possible to mass produce corrugated iron. They provided a rapid way for denominations like the Church of England, Methodists, and Baptists to establish places of worship - particularly, for serving the many fast-growing industrial and mining communities. Typically, the prefabricated kits were built with timber frames clad in galvanised, corrugated iron to prevent rusting. Some were intended to be temporary chapels, until a permanent brick or stone building could be afforded. There are some surviving 'tin tabernacles', of which some are designated as listed buildings for their architectural, historical and cultural significance.