In the Kilburn district of London, you can see an example of what was once known as a "tin tabernacle." These were churches thrown up in a hurry, made of corrugated iron. No, they weren't tin, but "iron church" doesn't have the same ring to it. The idea was that a permanent church would be built to replace the iron structure within five years, but in Kilburn that never happened. The tin tabernacle has been there since 1863, long enough that it has been deemed a historic building and cannot be demolished.
The church was used by a couple of different congregations up until World War II. In 1948 it was taken over by the Sea Cadets, who used it as a training facility until they recently found other space. The tin tabernacle is still used for gatherings and community events.
One of the unique features of Kilburn's church is the chapel inside, which is outfitted with plastic stained glass and accessories that were used in the filming of the movie Becket. But there are a lot of oddities in this church to explore. Plans are underway to bolster the decaying building and restore it to its former glory. Read the history of Kilburn's tin tabernacle and see more pictures at Ian Visits. -via Nag on the Lake
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