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Loved ones of people buried in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to address the problem is creating avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their loved ones.

A Looming Threat to Historic Graveyards

The council have identified three burial grounds in the villages of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being consumed by the ocean in the next few generations.

A newly published study on the issue sets out a range of possible actions, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities maintain it is for local people to decide how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It upsets me. My parents intended this to be their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections indicate at least a portion of one graveyard could be claimed by the waves in the next 80 years, but some locals 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

A local business owner recalled a school trip to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the water, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. That is not the case. Individuals will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of treasures. That is completely disrespectful.”

“I fear that the identical fate that happened at Eccles will occur here and there’ll be skeletons on the shore. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Further up the coast lies the grave of a ex-soldier killed while serving overseas. His parent expressed she could not sleep after learning her child's grave might one day be relocated.

“It truly trouble me to consider this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an timely resolution must be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

The lack of consensus over the timing and method to tackle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and anxious.

Some are calling for additional sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is drawing near.

“It is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A coastal manager confirmed the graveyards were owned and managed of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is down to them to choose the direction to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with communities.”

It was also stated there was ample time to consider all the options. “This concerns decades before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no common view on what should be done yet. It requires productive community discussions to find the right solutions for each village.”

The prospect of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “profound sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in life after death, offering a spiritual viewpoint on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.