St Wilfrid’s Church in Melling, Lancashire, was on the verge of closing after more than 700 years of service due to an inability to raise the £750,000 needed for urgent repairs. However, on Good Friday, the church received an unexpected lifeline when nine gold Britannia coins worth nearly £30,000 were discovered in a plastic bag hidden under the altar.
Discovery of the Gold Coins
The Rev Jane Lee, 54, and a parishioner found the bag while preparing the church for morning prayers. “We just burst into tears when we saw it,” Lee told the Times. “We couldn’t believe it. It was like a miracle because it’s so desperately needed for the church.” The coins, produced by the Royal Mint in 1999, had a face value of £100 each but sold for almost £30,000. “We were both absolutely flabbergasted,” said Lee.
Anonymous Donor Identified as 'James'
The coins were accompanied by a note written on Salvation Army paper, dated 16 July 2022, 11am: “Hi there, I’d like to donate these nine gold Britannias to Melling church,” it read, signed by “James, servant of the living God.” Despite efforts by church and diocesan officials, the benefactor has yet to be identified. Similar gifts were left to at least two other churches in Lancashire in 2022—gold coins were found in the donation box of a church in Hornby and behind the door of another in Quernmore. Lee believes the coins at St Wilfrid’s were left by the same anonymous donor four years ago and lay undiscovered until now.
Church's Struggle to Stay Open
St Wilfrid’s was in the process of closing when the gold was discovered, according to Lee. The church, which has a congregation of only five, needed £750,000 for repairs to the roof, stained glass windows, and other parts of the building. “We were struggling to keep our doors open,” she said. Lee described the gold coins as “the answer to their prayers” and said they would be used as a “seed” to apply for future grants and fundraising campaigns to complete the necessary repairs.
Historic Church and Community Support
The current building of St Wilfrid’s dates to the 14th century, though a church has likely been on the site since before 1066. Following the discovery, a heritage group has been established to help with repair costs. “That gives us hope, because it’s now not just the little congregation fighting to make this happen,” said Lee. “We’ve got a wider community behind us who are willing to help.”
Bishop's Response
The Rev Philip North, the bishop of Blackburn, called the gift a “sign of hope.” “It shows how loved the building is,” he added. “It shows that when we trust, God will provide. It would be an absolute tragedy for this church to close. This gift has doubled our determination to restore it for the benefit of the whole community.”
