Source: Lancaster Guardian
A 14th century church has been saved from closure after the discovery of a ‘miracle’ hoard of gold coins worth nearly £30,000 found hidden under the altar.
St Wilfrid's Church in Melling, near Lancaster, was set to shut as its congregation was unable to raise the £750,000 needed for urgent repairs to the building.
Rev Jane Lee said she and a lay minister were preparing for morning prayers when they discovered a plastic bag with a box which ‘to our amazement’ contained nine gold Britannia coins inside.
An accompanying note, written on Salvation Army paper and dated July 16, 2022, read: “Hi there, I'd like to donate these nine gold Britannias to Melling church.”
It was signed: “James, servant of the living God.”
The mystery donor has never been identified despite attempts by church and diocesan officials to trace him.
She said they burst into tears as it was ‘so desperately needed’ for the 700 year old church which was ‘in a bit of a pickle’ due to the extent of the repair work required including a new roof.
She told the BBC: “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.”
Lee said the church was in the process of closing when the hoard was discovered. “We were struggling to keep our doors open.”
She said it was ‘the answer to their prayers’ as the £30,000 can ‘be a seed’ to go towards applying for grants and other fundraising efforts to go on to get the repairs done.
It has since emerged that at least two other churches in Lancashire received similar donations of gold coins in 2022.
Coins were left in a donation box at a church in nearby Hornby and more were discovered behind the door of a church in Quernmore, near Lancaster.
She said: "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.
"Well now it's there for a seed to get all the repairs done that need to be done. It's wonderful news.”
