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Families of people buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to tackle the problem is creating unnecessary distress concerning the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Churchyards

The council have singled out three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being at risk of being consumed by the sea in the next few generations.

A recent report on the situation details a range of options, from doing nothing to disinterring bodies and reburying them in more secure sites. Officials maintain it is for the community to determine how to proceed.

“At the moment we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. My parents wanted this to serve as their final resting place, but it won't be because of the encroaching sea.”

Estimates suggest at least part of one churchyard could be claimed by the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

A local business owner recalled a school trip to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the sea, including its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get carried away to the ocean. That is not the case. Individuals will collect remains as mementos 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 bones on the beach. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Grave in Peril

Along the coast is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while serving overseas. His parent expressed she lost sleep after discovering her child's final plot might one day be relocated.

“It truly disturb me to consider this won’t be his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should stop but says it is premature to disturb existing graves. “My preference for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Clarity

The lack of agreement over when and how to handle the problem has resulted in grieving relatives feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some want more sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to proceed for now. Others contend the time for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation 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 all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A local official said the graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to decide the direction to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should be done yet. We need productive local conversations to discover the right solutions for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but church representatives also referenced a doctrine in life after death, providing a theological perspective on the physical loss of sacred ground.