At least as early as prohibition, and possibly much earlier These and These were quite popular in New England, USA. My Grandfather and his brothers all had them.
In our hometown in Ireland, my cousin had an actual key to the Church which looked very much like them, but larger. He was mortally offended when I explained why I was giggling about it. Apparently he had earned his key as an altar boy, and had continued to volunteer for the next two decades such that he was allowed to keep it. Quite an honor. :o
Who, today, must use an opener for beer? Back when beer cans were steel and without tabs, it was a different story. Having used church keys (I am a geezer), I have always supposed that the name for them was a sarcastic response to religious nuts who were not only against drinking for themselves but wished to prohibit it for everyone else (as indeed they did from 1920-33).
