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Loved ones of people laid to rest in graves vulnerable to shoreline retreat say that indecision over how to tackle the problem is creating avoidable anguish about the final resting places of their loved ones.

A Looming Threat to Historic Churchyards

The council have identified three burial grounds in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being engulfed by the sea in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the situation details a range of options, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and relocating them in safer sites. Officials maintain it is for the community to determine how to proceed.

“At the moment we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. My parents intended this to serve as their last home, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Estimates suggest at least part of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “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 remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the water, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to 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 mementos and go plundering graves in search of valuables. It’s completely disrespectful.”

“I’m worried that the same thing that happened at Eccles will happen at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the shore. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast is situated the grave of a ex-soldier who died while serving overseas. His mother said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be moved.

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

She believes, new interments should cease 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 needs to be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Searching for Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over when and how to tackle the challenge has resulted in grieving relatives feeling exasperated and worried.

Several families want additional coastal protections to delay the inevitable erosion and to permit funerals to continue for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager said the burial sites were under the care of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is up to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with residents.”

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

“There is no unified opinion on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to find the right answers for each village.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “profound sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also referenced a doctrine in resurrection, providing a theological viewpoint on the temporal loss of hallowed earth.