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Families whose relatives laid to rest in resting places at risk from shoreline retreat argue that a lack of decision over how to tackle the issue is causing them avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities have singled out three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being engulfed by the sea in the coming decades.

A recent report on the situation sets out a series of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and relocating them in safer locations. Authorities say it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

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

Estimates suggest at least a portion of one churchyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

A local business owner recalled a school trip to the nearby village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the sea, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that the deceased will just get carried away to the ocean. That is not the case. People will collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing looking for treasures. That is completely disrespectful.”

“I fear that the same thing that befell at Eccles will occur here and there’ll be bones on the shore. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Resting Place in Peril

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

“It does trouble me to think this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “For us it’s an significant place to go.”

She believes, new burials should stop but says it is too soon to disturb current plots. “What I would choose for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision must be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

An absence of consensus over the timing and method to tackle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and worried.

Some are calling for more coastal protections to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to continue for now. Others argue the moment for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official confirmed the graveyards were owned and managed of the local diocese. “In the end it is up to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with residents.”

He added there was time to consider all the options. “This concerns decades before it starts to be lost.”

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should happen yet. It requires good community discussions to discover the appropriate answers for each village.”

The possibility of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sadness for the local community,” but church representatives also spoke of a belief in life after death, providing a theological viewpoint on the physical loss of hallowed earth.