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Loved ones of people buried in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to address the problem is causing them avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their loved ones.

An Impending Danger to Historic Churchyards

Local authorities have singled out three burial grounds in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being consumed by the sea in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the situation details a series of possible actions, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for local people to determine how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in limbo. It causes me distress. They intended this to serve as their final resting place, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Estimates indicate at least a portion 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 less than 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the nearby village of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get washed out to the ocean. They won’t. People will collect remains as souvenirs and go plundering graves 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 bones on the shore. I would feel appalled by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Further up the shoreline is situated the grave of a former paratrooper killed while working abroad. His mother said she could not sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It does trouble me to consider this may not remain his permanent home,” she said. “For us it’s an significant place to go.”

In her view, new burials should stop but says it is too soon to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an timely resolution must be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

An absence of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the challenge has left grieving relatives feeling exasperated and anxious.

Several families want additional sea defences to delay the inevitable erosion and to permit funerals 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 really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A local official confirmed the graveyards were owned and managed of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to choose the direction to take. We are here to assist them through that process with residents.”

It was also stated there was ample time to consider all the choices. “We are talking many years before it starts to be lost.”

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should be done yet. We need good local conversations to find the appropriate answers for each community.”

The prospect of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, providing a theological viewpoint on the physical disappearance of sacred ground.