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Loved ones of people buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that indecision on how best to address the problem is causing them avoidable anguish about the final resting places of their loved ones.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Churchyards

Local authorities have singled out three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being engulfed by the sea in the next few generations.

A recent report on the situation sets out a range of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in safer sites. Officials say it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It upsets me. They wanted this to serve as their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Estimates indicate at least a portion of one graveyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals fear it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the sea, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to the ocean. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as souvenirs and go plundering graves in search of treasures. That is completely disrespectful.”

“I fear that the same thing that happened at Eccles will occur here and there’ll be bones on the shore. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Further up the coast is situated the grave of a ex-soldier killed while serving overseas. His mother expressed she could not sleep after discovering her child's final plot might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to think this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant place to go.”

She believes, new burials should stop but says it is premature to disturb existing graves. “What I would choose for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to handle the challenge has left bereaved families feeling exasperated and anxious.

Some want additional sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to permit burials to continue for now. Others argue the moment for moving graves is drawing near.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

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 residents.”

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

“There is no common view on what should happen yet. It requires good local conversations to find the appropriate solutions for each village.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, offering a spiritual perspective on the physical disappearance of sacred ground.