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Families whose relatives buried in graves at risk from shoreline retreat argue that a lack of decision over how to address the problem is creating unnecessary distress concerning the final resting places of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Historic Graveyards

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

A newly published study on the issue sets out a range of possible actions, from taking no action to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure sites. Authorities maintain it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in limbo. It upsets me. They wanted this to be their last home, but it won't be because of the encroaching 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 much sooner. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

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

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

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

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Along the coast is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper killed while serving abroad. His mother said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s final plot might one day be relocated.

“It truly trouble me to consider this may not remain his permanent resting place,” she said. “For us it’s an significant site to visit.”

In her view, new burials should stop but says it is premature to exhume existing graves. “What I would choose for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

An absence of agreement over when and how to handle the problem has left bereaved families feeling frustrated and anxious.

Several families want additional coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Others argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was thorough, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is taken forward. And all parties is washing their hands over who is responsible.”

A coastal manager said the graveyards were under the care 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 journey with communities.”

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the choices. “This concerns many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. It requires good community discussions to find the right solutions for each community.”

The prospect of the loss of the churches and graveyards was labeled one of “immense sadness for the area,” but church representatives also referenced a doctrine in life after death, offering a spiritual perspective on the physical loss of sacred ground.