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Loved ones whose relatives laid to rest in graves at risk from coastal erosion state that indecision over how to tackle the problem is causing them avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Threat to Historic Graveyards

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

A recent report on the situation details a range of possible actions, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and reburying them in safer locations. Officials maintain it is for local people to determine how to move forward.

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

Projections suggest at least a portion of one churchyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “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 Past

One resident remembered a school trip to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the sea, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get carried away to the ocean. They won’t. People will take bones as souvenirs and go grave robbing looking for valuables. That is completely disrespectful.”

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

A Paratrooper's Resting Place in Peril

Further up the coast is situated the grave of a former paratrooper who died while working overseas. His parent said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s final plot might one day be relocated.

“It truly disturb me to think this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “For us it’s an significant site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is premature to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision must be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Searching for Solutions and Certainty

An absence of agreement over when and how to handle the challenge has left grieving relatives feeling frustrated and worried.

Several families want more coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to permit burials to continue for now. Different voices argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A coastal manager said the burial sites were owned and managed of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to decide the path to take. We are here to help support them through that process with residents.”

He added there was time to weigh all the options. “This concerns many years before it begins getting lost.”

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

The possibility of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sadness for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in life after death, providing a theological perspective on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.