Why do we call this a church key, when it never opened the door to a church?

@MarieCoyle (44456)
June 2, 2025 2:48pm CST
Do you have one of these? Do you ever use it if you do? This was a kitchen tool for as long as I can remember. If you drank beer that came in a can, it didn't have the pop-a-top thingy on it then, you had to open it with this opener, that everyone always referred to as a ''church key.'' It hooks on the side of cans, and then you can move it upward and push down on it, to open the can. The only thing I really use it for is to open home-canned foods, and the occasional can of evaporated milk, to pour out the needed amount as those cans don't have a lip for a can opener to grip. A person can gently lift the cap of a canning jar and break the seal on the jar, to open it and get to the contents. I am not a beer drinker, but if I was, I wouldn't need this in today's world of the pop-a-tops. The reason it's called a church key has several explanations. The one that seems to be most popular is that it rather resembled a church key, back in the day. Invented in 1892, patented in 1900, this little chunk of metal has been in many kitchens for years and years. Some think it's because monks often brewed beer in secret, and kept it locked up. Whatever the reason, it's been a ''church key'' for like 133 years? Do you have one of these in your kitchen, and if so, do you use it? Picture from a Pinterest post and marked Ebay as well.
14 people like this
12 responses
@LadyDuck (475378)
• Italy
3 Jun
I have a few of those can openers, weird that they are called Church keys, I did not even know.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (475378)
• Italy
19h
@MarieCoyle - As I am curious like a cat, I researched, if you are interested this is the story behind the name.
https://jarandcan.com/why-is-can-opener-called-church-key/
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (44456)
20h
I never really wondered why they were called that, I assumed it was a joke of some sort that just caught on. Well, I guess in a way, it was.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
17h
@LadyDuck I had also read in one article about the one theory of the name church key could possibly remind drinkers of church and religion, and not to drink, as well as the monk perspective that I mentioned. That’s a good article, Anna.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (77785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Jun
I don't think we have anything like that, but I think I've seen it. Didn't know what it was for though.
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@kaylachan (77785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Jun
@MarieCoyle He might. He was born in 1960. He used to drink, too. But, he either drank from glass bottles or pop top cans (at least when I knew about it). Now he drinks liquid out of a tumbler.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
3 Jun
I bet George knows what a church key is, but maybe I’m wrong.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
3 Jun
@kaylachan Time has changed packaging in many things.
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@AmbiePam (98789)
• United States
2 Jun
My parents had one, but I never heard it called a church key. I just used it to open things. Now I know!
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@AmbiePam (98789)
• United States
2 Jun
@MarieCoyle Yeah, my mom used it for evaporated milk, and I used it for Coke in a glass bottle on the rare occasion I would get one.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
2 Jun
@AmbiePam It’s definitely a good tool to open those oddball milk cans!
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@DaddyEvil (149670)
• United States
2 Jun
I had one when I was younger but haven't seen one of those in years. I don't open anything anymore that needs that type of can opener. (And we always called it a can opener. I guess that tells you the types of things it was used for at our house. )
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@DaddyEvil (149670)
• United States
2 Jun
@MarieCoyle I see...
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@wolfgirl569 (116953)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Jun
I do and use it like you do.
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@wolfgirl569 (116953)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Jun
@MarieCoyle I have even used it to open up other cans when my can opener wouldn't.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
2 Jun
Eva, I figured you would know about those tricks for sure.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
3 Jun
@wolfgirl569 I have in a pinch, too. Also to open the big metal cans of tomato juice, which I have to buy if I've used all of my home canned stuff.
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@Deepizzaguy (110361)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4 Jun
I remember my relatives and myself owning a church key many years ago.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (110361)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4h
@MarieCoyle That is true since when my relatives had church keys, they were needed.
@MarieCoyle (44456)
20h
I guess I just thought pretty much every kitchen had one of these things, George!
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@snowy22315 (190537)
• United States
2 Jun
I have one. It doesn't get much use I wasn't aware it was called a church key opener
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
2 Jun
Maybe it's a regional thing? But I have family in other states, they refer to it as a church key as well...guess I don't know for sure.
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@rakski (138081)
• Philippines
3 Jun
Never new it was called church key. I just knew it as can opener
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@rakski (138081)
• Philippines
3 Jun
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
3 Jun
That’s what the people here usually call them.
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@RasmaSandra (85574)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Jun
I have had plenty of those, I know the term and thanks for the explanation,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (44456)
3 Jun
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@moffittjc (124526)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jun
I have one hanging on my fridge. I can't even remember the last time I used it! lol
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
20h
I guarantee if you toss it out, you will wish it was back. That's how that works!
@JudyEv (354954)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jun
I'm very familiar with these but I've never heard them called a church key before. So that's the new thing I've learnt today.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (44456)
3 Jun
It's odd how some things get their names. I know what you mean about learning today, I try to learn something every day that I didn't know.
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@LindaOHio (190097)
• United States
3 Jun
I used to use it most often to break the seal on a stubborn jar. Interesting about the history.
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@MarieCoyle (44456)
20h
My kids use it like I do, for evaporated milk cans and some canning jar lids. When I have to buy tomato juice in a can for soup, I use it for that, too.
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