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Loved ones of people buried in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to address the problem is creating avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Danger to Historic Graveyards

The council have singled out three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being consumed by the ocean in the next few generations.

A recent report on the situation details a series of possible actions, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and reburying them in safer locations. Officials say it is for the community to decide how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. They intended this to serve as their final resting place, but it won't be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections suggest at least part of one graveyard could be claimed by the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

A local business owner recalled a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the water, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get carried away to the ocean. They won’t. Individuals will take bones as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of valuables. That is completely undignified.”

“I’m worried that the same thing that happened at Eccles will occur at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast lies the grave of a ex-soldier who died while serving abroad. 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 important place to go.”

In her view, new interments should stop but says it is too soon to exhume current plots. “My preference for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an timely resolution must be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Seeking Answers and Certainty

The lack of agreement over when and how to handle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and anxious.

Several families want additional coastal protections to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Others argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotive,” said one relative. “The official study was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And everybody is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A local official confirmed the graveyards were owned and managed of the local diocese. “In the end it is down to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with communities.”

He added there was ample time to consider all the options. “This concerns decades before it starts to be lost.”

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should happen yet. We need good community discussions to discover the right solutions for each community.”

The prospect of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in life after death, providing a spiritual viewpoint on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.