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Loved ones of people buried in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion say that a lack of decision on how best to address the problem is causing them avoidable anguish concerning 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, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being consumed by the sea in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the issue details a range of possible actions, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for local people to determine how to move forward.

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

Projections indicate at least part of one churchyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Past

One resident remembered a school trip to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the water, along with its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing looking for valuables. That is completely undignified.”

“I’m worried that the identical fate that befell at Eccles will occur at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the shore. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast is situated the grave of a ex-soldier killed while working overseas. His mother expressed she lost sleep after discovering her son’s grave 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 important place to go.”

In her view, new burials should cease but says it is premature to disturb existing graves. “My preference for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to handle the problem has resulted in grieving relatives feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some are calling for more sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to continue for now. Others contend the moment for relocation is drawing near.

“It 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 washing their hands over who is responsible.”

A coastal manager confirmed the burial sites were under the care of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is down to them to decide the direction to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

He added there was time to consider all the options. “This concerns decades before it begins getting lost.”

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

The prospect of losing the churches and graveyards was labeled one of “profound sadness for the area,” but faith leaders also referenced a doctrine in resurrection, providing a theological perspective on the temporal loss of hallowed earth.