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Families of people laid to rest in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion say that a lack of decision on how best to tackle the problem is causing them avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their departed family.

A Looming Threat to Ancient Churchyards

The council 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 newly published study on the situation sets out a range of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for the community to decide how to move forward.

“At the moment 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 sea.”

Projections suggest at least part of one graveyard could be claimed by 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 look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Past

One resident recalled a school trip to the nearby village of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the water, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. That is not the case. People will take bones as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of valuables. It’s completely undignified.”

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

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Further up the coast is situated the grave of a former paratrooper killed while serving abroad. His parent said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be relocated.

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

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

Seeking Answers and Clarity

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

Several families want more sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to permit burials to continue for now. Different voices argue the moment for relocation is approaching.

“It is very emotional,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was thorough, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is taken forward. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official said the burial sites were owned and managed of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to choose the direction to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with residents.”

He added there was time to consider all the options. “We are talking many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. It requires good community discussions to discover the right solutions for each community.”

The prospect of the loss of the historic sites was labeled one of “immense sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, offering a spiritual perspective on the physical loss of hallowed earth.