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Families of people laid to rest in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that indecision on how best to tackle the problem is causing them unnecessary distress concerning the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Threat to Historic Churchyards

The council have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being swallowed by the sea in the next few generations.

A newly published study on the issue details a series of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and reburying them in safer locations. Authorities say it is for the community to decide how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in limbo. It upsets me. My parents wanted this to serve as their final resting place, but it won't be because of the encroaching sea.”

Estimates suggest at least part of one churchyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Past

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the water, along with its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to the ocean. That is not the case. Individuals will take bones as souvenirs and go plundering graves in search of treasures. That is completely undignified.”

“I fear that the identical fate that happened at Eccles will occur at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast lies the burial plot of a ex-soldier who died while serving overseas. His mother expressed she could not sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to consider this may not remain his lasting home,” she said. “To our family it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to exhume existing graves. “What I would choose for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

An absence of consensus over when and how to tackle the challenge has resulted in grieving relatives feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some want additional coastal protections to delay the inevitable erosion and to permit burials to continue for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official confirmed the burial sites were owned and managed of the local diocese. “In the end it is up to them to decide the direction to take. We are here to assist them through that process with communities.”

It was also stated there was time to consider all the choices. “We are talking decades before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no unified opinion on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to discover the right answers for each village.”

The possibility of losing the historic sites was labeled one of “profound sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in life after death, offering a theological viewpoint on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.