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Loved ones whose relatives laid to rest in graves at risk from coastal erosion state that a lack of decision over how to address the problem is causing them avoidable anguish about the final resting places of their loved ones.

A Looming Threat to Historic Churchyards

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

A newly published study on the issue sets out a range of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure sites. Authorities say it is for local people to determine how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. My parents wanted 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 be claimed by the waves in the next 80 years, but some locals worry it will happen much sooner. “In my view it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the sea, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get carried away to the ocean. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of treasures. That is completely undignified.”

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

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast lies the grave of a former paratrooper killed while working abroad. His parent said she could not sleep after discovering her child's grave might one day be relocated.

“It truly trouble me to think this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important place to go.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is premature to disturb existing graves. “What I would choose for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

The lack of consensus over the timing and method to handle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and anxious.

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

“The situation is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official said the burial sites were under the care of the church authorities. “In the end it is down to them to decide the path to take. We are here to help support them through that journey with residents.”

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

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. It requires good local conversations to find the right answers for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was labeled one of “immense sadness for the area,” but church representatives also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, offering a theological perspective on the physical loss of sacred ground.