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

A Looming Danger to Historic Graveyards

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

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

“Right now we’re in limbo. It causes me distress. They intended this to be their last home, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Projections indicate at least part of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents 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 Past

A local business owner remembered a school trip to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the sea, including its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that the deceased will just get washed out to the ocean. That is not the case. People will take bones as souvenirs and go plundering graves in search of treasures. It’s completely undignified.”

“I fear that the same thing that happened at Eccles will occur at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the shore. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Further up the shoreline is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while working abroad. His mother expressed she could not sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to consider this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant place to go.”

In her view, new burials should cease but says it is premature to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

The lack of consensus over the timing and method to handle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Several families want more coastal protections to slow the inevitable erosion and to permit burials to continue for now. Different voices contend the time for relocation is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And everybody is washing their hands over who is responsible.”

A coastal manager confirmed the graveyards were under the care of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is down to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to find the appropriate solutions for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the churches and graveyards was labeled one of “profound sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, providing a spiritual viewpoint on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.