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Families whose relatives laid to rest in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to address the problem is creating unnecessary distress concerning the final resting places of their departed family.

An Impending Threat to Historic Churchyards

Local authorities have singled out three burial grounds in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being consumed by the ocean in the coming decades.

A recent report on the situation sets out a range of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for the community to determine how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. My parents wanted this to be their last home, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections suggest at least a portion of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “In my view it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

A local business owner remembered a school trip to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the water, along with its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that the deceased will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. Individuals will take bones as souvenirs and go grave robbing looking for valuables. It’s completely disrespectful.”

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

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast lies the burial plot of a ex-soldier killed while working overseas. His mother said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be relocated.

“It does disturb me to consider this may not remain his permanent resting place,” she said. “For us it’s an significant site to visit.”

She believes, new interments should stop but says it is premature to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an early decision needs to be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Seeking Answers and Certainty

The lack of agreement over when and how to tackle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some want more coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to continue for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotional,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is taken forward. And all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager confirmed the burial sites were owned and managed of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is down to them to choose the direction to take. We are here to assist them through that process with communities.”

It was also stated there was ample time to consider all the options. “We are talking decades before it begins getting lost.”

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

The possibility of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sadness for the local community,” but church representatives also spoke of a belief in life after death, providing a spiritual perspective on the temporal loss of sacred ground.