Anonymous Gift of Gold Coins Discovered Beneath Altar
An anonymous donation of nine Britannia gold coins valued at nearly £30,000 was found in a bag hidden beneath the altar of St Wilfrid’s Church in Melling, Lancashire.
Facing closure due to an inability to raise the £750,000 required for urgent repairs, the church, which has served the town for over 700 years, was saved on Good Friday by this unexpected discovery.
Discovery and Reaction
The Rev Jane Lee, 54, recounted the moment she and a parishioner found the coins while preparing the church for morning prayers.
“We just burst into tears when we saw it,”
“We couldn’t believe it,”
“It was like a miracle because it’s so desperately needed for the church.”
The nine gold Britannia coins were produced by the Royal Mint in 1999. Each coin had a face value of £100, but collectively they sold for almost £30,000.
“We were both absolutely flabbergasted,”
Lee said.
Note from the Donor
The coins were accompanied by a note written on Salvation Army paper, dated 16 July 2022 at 11am. The note read:
“Hi there, I’d like to donate these nine gold Britannias to Melling church,”
and was signed by “James, servant of the living God.”
Despite efforts by church and diocesan officials, the benefactor has not yet been identified.
Similar Donations in Lancashire
In 2022, similar gifts were left at two other churches in Lancashire. Gold coins were found in the donation box of a church in Hornby and left behind the door of another in Quernmore. Lee believes the coins found at St Wilfrid’s were left by the same anonymous donor four years ago but remained undiscovered until now.
Church’s Financial Struggles and Future Plans
At the time of the discovery, St Wilfrid’s was in the process of closing. The church has a congregation of only five members and required £750,000 for repairs including the roof and stained glass windows.
“We were struggling to keep our doors open.”
Lee described the gold coins as
“the answer to their prayers”
and stated they would be used as a seed fund to apply for future grants and support fundraising campaigns to complete the necessary repairs.
Historical Significance and Community Support
The current building of St Wilfrid’s dates back to the 14th century, although a church has likely existed on the site since before 1066. Following the discovery, a heritage group has been established to assist with repair costs.
“That gives us hope, because it’s now not just the little congregation fighting to make this happen,”
“We’ve got a wider community behind us who are willing to help.”
Comments from Church Leadership
The Rt Rev Philip North, bishop of Blackburn, described the gift as a
“sign of hope”.
He added:
“It shows how loved the building is,”
“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.”
