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Loved ones of people buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion say that indecision over how to tackle the problem is causing them avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their departed family.

A Looming Threat to Historic Churchyards

The council have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being at risk of being swallowed by the ocean in the next few generations.

A recent report on the situation details a series of possible actions, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and reburying them in safer sites. Officials say it is for local people to decide how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in limbo. It upsets me. My parents wanted this to be their last home, but it won't be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections indicate at least part of one graveyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen much sooner. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident remembered a school trip to the nearby village of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the water, including its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. That is not the case. Individuals will take bones as mementos and go grave robbing in search of valuables. It’s completely disrespectful.”

“I’m worried that the same thing that happened at Eccles will happen here and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the shoreline is situated the grave of a former paratrooper killed while serving abroad. His parent said she could not sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be relocated.

“It truly disturb me to consider this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “For us it’s an significant site to visit.”

In her view, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to exhume current plots. “What I would choose for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an timely resolution must be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Seeking Answers and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Several families are calling for more sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Different voices contend the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotive,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager confirmed the graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is up to them to decide the direction to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with residents.”

It was also stated there was 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. It requires productive community discussions to discover the right answers for each village.”

The prospect of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, providing a spiritual perspective on the temporal loss of sacred ground.