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Families of people buried in graves at risk from coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to tackle the issue is creating avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their departed family.

An Impending Threat to Ancient Graveyards

The council have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being swallowed by the ocean in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the issue details a series of options, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and relocating them in safer locations. Officials say it is for the community to decide how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in limbo. It upsets me. My parents intended this to serve as their final resting place, but it won't be because of the 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 far earlier. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Haunted by the Past

One resident recalled a school trip to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing in search of treasures. It’s completely disrespectful.”

“I fear that the identical fate that befell at Eccles will happen here and there’ll be bones on the shore. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Soldier's Grave in Peril

Along the coast is situated the burial plot of a ex-soldier who died while serving abroad. His parent said she lost sleep after learning her son’s final plot might one day be relocated.

“It does disturb me to think this may not remain his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new interments should cease but says it is premature to exhume existing graves. “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

An absence of agreement over when and how to handle the problem has left bereaved families feeling frustrated and worried.

Several families want more coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to continue for now. Others contend the moment for relocation is drawing near.

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

A local official said the burial sites were under the care of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to decide the direction to take. We are here to help support them through that journey with residents.”

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the choices. “We are talking many years before it begins getting lost.”

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

The prospect of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, offering a theological viewpoint on the physical disappearance of sacred ground.