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Families whose relatives buried in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion argue 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 Graveyards

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

A recent report on the situation sets out a range of possible actions, from taking no action to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure sites. Officials maintain it is for the community to decide how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It upsets me. They wanted this to serve as their last home, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections indicate at least a portion of one churchyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals worry it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the water, including its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get carried away to sea. They won’t. People will take bones as mementos and go grave robbing in search of valuables. That is completely undignified.”

“I’m worried that the identical fate that happened at Eccles will happen here and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Further up the shoreline is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper killed while serving abroad. His parent expressed she could not sleep after discovering her child's final plot might one day be relocated.

“It truly trouble me to consider this may not remain his lasting home,” she said. “For us it’s an important site to visit.”

In her view, new interments should stop 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 attained.”

Searching for Answers and Clarity

The lack of consensus over when and how to handle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Some are calling for more sea defences to slow the inevitable erosion and to permit funerals to proceed for now. Others argue the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is taken forward. And all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A local official confirmed the graveyards were under the care of the local diocese. “In the end it is up to them to choose the path to take. We are here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. It requires good community discussions to find the appropriate answers for each community.”

The prospect of the loss of the historic sites was labeled 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 loss of hallowed earth.