An Unexpected Discovery Revives Hopes for St. Wilfrid’s Church
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Facing closure due to an overwhelming £750,000 repair bill, a small English church has found hope in a serendipitous find. Members of St. Wilfrid’s Church in Melling, near Lancaster, discovered a cache of gold coins beneath the altar, potentially saving the historic structure from shutting its doors.
With its roots in the 15th century, St. Wilfrid’s Church’s sandstone structure and stone slate roof have stood for centuries, with some remnants suggesting an origin as early as the 1300s. This historical gem is recognized by England’s Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission.
Reverend Jane Lee, the church’s pastor, shared with The Times that they were preparing for what could have been their last Good Friday in 2026 when the discovery was made. She recounted, “As we took the altar frontal off, the wedding kneeler was underneath, and I noticed a plastic bag sticking under it. When we took it out, there was a box in it with a note.”
The stash included nine gold coins minted by the Royal Mint in 1999, each featuring Britannia. Although each coin’s face value was £100 ($134), the church sold them for nearly £30,000 ($40,000).
Lee described the moment of discovery as nothing short of miraculous, saying, “We got just short of £30,000 when we sold them. We were both absolutely flabbergasted. We couldn’t believe it. We both burst into tears. You know, it was just like a miracle.”
The coins came with a note on Salvation Army paper, dated July 16, 2022, at 11 a.m., stating, “Hi there, I’d like to donate these nine gold Britannias to Melling church,” signed by “James, servant of the living God.”
Though the benefactor remains unknown, similar donations have been reported by two other Lancashire churches in 2022. Despite generous contributions from parishioners, the financial burden from the repair bill had led the congregation to consider closure.
Lee expressed to the BBC the relief and emotional impact of the discovery, noting, “We couldn’t believe it. It was like a miracle because it’s so desperately needed for the church. We were struggling to keep our doors open.”
The funds from the coin sale are now positioned as “seed” money to pursue grants and further fundraising efforts for necessary repairs. Lee emphasized the broader community support this has ignited, saying, “For me, it’s significant because we’ve got more community backing now to the church, whereas four years ago we would have probably just spent it on the day-to-day running of it. Now it’s there for a seed to get all the repairs done that need to be done.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
