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Families whose relatives laid to rest in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that indecision over how to address the problem is creating unnecessary distress concerning the eternal homes of their loved ones.

An Impending Threat to Ancient Churchyards

The council have identified three burial grounds in the villages of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being in danger of being consumed by the sea in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the issue details a series of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for the community to determine how to proceed.

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

Estimates suggest at least a portion of one churchyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Troubled by the Past

A local business owner remembered a childhood visit to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the water, including its church and graveyard.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get carried away to the ocean. They won’t. People will collect remains as souvenirs and go plundering graves looking for treasures. That is completely disrespectful.”

“I’m worried that the identical fate that befell at Eccles will happen here and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I would feel appalled by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Further up the shoreline lies the grave of a former paratrooper who died while serving overseas. His mother expressed she lost sleep after learning her child's final plot might one day be moved.

“It does disturb me to consider this may not remain his lasting home,” she said. “To our family it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new interments should stop but says it is too soon to exhume current plots. “What I would choose for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an early decision must be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

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

Some are calling for additional coastal protections to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to proceed for now. Different voices contend the time for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” 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 responsible.”

A local official confirmed the burial sites were owned and managed of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is up to them to choose the path to take. We are here to assist them through that process with residents.”

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

“There is no common view on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to find the right solutions for each community.”

The possibility of losing the historic sites was labeled one of “immense sadness for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, providing a theological perspective on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.