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

A Looming Danger to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities 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 newly published study on the issue details a range of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities maintain it is for local people to decide how to proceed.

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

Estimates suggest at least part of one graveyard could fall into 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 consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Troubled by the Past

One resident remembered a school trip to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the sea, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that the deceased will just get washed out to sea. That is not the case. People will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of treasures. It’s completely undignified.”

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

A Paratrooper's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Along the coast lies the burial plot of a ex-soldier killed while serving abroad. His mother said she could not sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It does disturb me to consider this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “For us it’s an important place to go.”

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

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

The lack of consensus over the timing and method to handle the problem has left grieving relatives feeling exasperated and anxious.

Some are calling for additional coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to proceed for now. Different voices argue the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A coastal manager said the burial sites were owned and managed of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is down to them to choose the direction to take. We are here to help support them through that process with residents.”

It was also stated there was time to consider all the options. “This concerns many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should be done yet. It requires productive community discussions to find the appropriate answers for each community.”

The prospect of the loss of the churches and graveyards was labeled one of “profound sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, offering a spiritual perspective on the temporal loss of sacred ground.