Anonymous Donor Saves 700-Year-Old English Church with Gold Coins

St. Wilfrid's Church, a medieval structure in Melling, Lancashire, dating back to around 1300, faced potential closure due to a £750,000 repair cost and a dwindling congregation of just five. Right before Easter, Reverend Jane Lee and a parishioner stumbled upon a plastic bag hidden beneath the altar, which contained a box with nine gold Britannia coins from 1999, each valued at £100 but worth more in the gold market. Accompanying the coins was a note dated July 16, 2022, on Salvation Army stationery, signed by "James, servant of the living God," indicating the donation was intended for the church. The coins fetched nearly £30,000 (approximately $40,000). Although the donor remains unidentified, a local church representative noted that three other churches and a school in the area received similar gifts. This discovery led to the establishment of a heritage group dedicated to fundraising for the church's upkeep, which has likely served as a place of worship since before the Norman Conquest in 1066.