St. Wilfrid's Church in Melling has been saved from closure after a cache of gold coins were found hidden beneath the altar, British media reported in early July.
St. Wilfrid's, dating to between the 10th and late 15th century, is designated a Grade I Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) for its exceptional interest within the British national setting.
The church was in the process of closing after being unable to raise funds for renovations when the box holding the coins was found.
“As we took the altar frontal off, the wedding kneeler was underneath, and I noticed a plastic bag sticking under it,” Reverend Jane Lee told the BBC. “When we took it out, there was a box in it with a note.”
Dated to July 16, 2022, the note, shared online by the BBC, reads: “Hi there, I’d like to donate these nine gold Britannias to Melling church. The plastic bag identifies a bullion dealer,” and is signed by “James, servant of the living God.”
"We just burst into tears when we saw it,” Lee shared. “It was definitely an Easter miracle.”
“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 its there for a seed to get more funding.”
The coins were sold for £30,000, covering part of the needed £750,000 to finish the repairs.
“James’s” generosity reportedly extended to several other churches and a school in the area.
“Nobody knows who he is, where he came from, but he’s a very, very generous man, so we are extremely grateful to him,” Lee said.
'James': An anonymous leather-clad biker
But “James” did not remain unknown for long.
A week after the coins were found, the Times of London reported that the mystery benefactor is believed to be a leather-clad biker, who chose the mainly Grade I and Grade II listed churches because they were on his favorite riding routes in Lancashire.
According to the Times of London, he had also left a note in St. Wilfrid’s visitor book the day he left the coins in 2022 under the name “James,” writing “What a beautiful and peaceful church. Melling should be justifiably proud of their heritage.”
He added a passage from Philippians 4:13 in the New Testament: “I can do all things in Christ who strengthened me.”
“James” had also left coins at Quernmore’s primary school near Lancaster, and St. Peter’s Church, located nearby, the Times of London reported. The school had received 10 coins in 2022, while the church found three under its back door.
“The coins had a massive impact on the school because we were able to afford interactive whiteboards which we would never have had enough money for,” the Times of London quoted Fiona Richardson, the principal of the school, as saying. “There are around 100 children here, and the gift has changed their lives.”
“This man turned up and told one of the teachers he was a biker who loved riding the roads around here and was particularly impressed with how the school and church were together nestled in a valley.”
“I think he had turned to God in some way and wanted to do something with his money to give back to churches and their communities,” said Richardson. “He didn’t hang around as far as I know. He just wanted to make sure he remained anonymous; it was a wonderful gesture.”
Donations helped churches in ‘so many ways’
St. Peter’s Churchwarden Stephen Potter, who had discovered the three coins four years ago, was cited by the Times of London as saying that at first, he had thought the coins were chocolate gold coins.
“Any money is welcome to churches these days. I suspect this man left all the donations on the same day,” Potter said. “Our feeling is that he wants to remain anonymous, and we have to respect those wishes, though I have no idea who he is.”
“All I would like to say to him is that his money has helped these churches in so many ways. Thank you.”
Other churches to have received donations from the biker are St. Margaret’s in Hornby and St. Thomas’s in Garstang, according to the Times of London.
St. Thomas’s reported the discovery of three gold coins to the UK’s Charity Commission in 2022, adding that they had been sold for £4,293. In Hornby, “James” had left five coins in St. Margaret’s donation box, later selling for £7,994.
Several churches in Kirkby Lonsdale, Casterton, Tunstall and Brookhouse also reportedly received donations of gold and silver coins from “James” during that year.
The Times of London added that church officials believe all of “James’s” donations of coins have been found.