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Families of people buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion say that indecision over how to address the issue is creating unnecessary distress concerning the eternal homes of their departed family.

A Looming Danger to Ancient Churchyards

Local authorities have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being in danger of being engulfed by the ocean in the coming decades.

A recent report on the issue details a range of possible actions, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It upsets me. They intended this to be their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Estimates suggest at least part of one churchyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

A local business owner recalled a childhood visit to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the sea, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that the deceased will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. People will collect remains as souvenirs and go plundering graves in search of treasures. It’s completely undignified.”

“I fear that the identical fate that happened at Eccles will happen at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

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

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

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

Searching for Answers and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to handle the problem has left bereaved families feeling exasperated and anxious.

Several families want more sea defences to slow the inevitable erosion and to permit funerals to continue for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotional,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager confirmed the burial sites were owned and managed of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is up to them to choose the path 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. “This concerns many years before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no common view on what should be done yet. We need productive community discussions to discover the appropriate solutions for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “profound sorrow for the area,” but church representatives also spoke of a belief in life after death, offering a spiritual viewpoint on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.