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Families whose relatives buried in graves at risk from coastal erosion say that indecision on how best to tackle the issue is causing them avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Graveyards

The council have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being swallowed by the sea in the next few generations.

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

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

Estimates indicate at least part of one graveyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals fear it will happen far earlier. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Past

One resident remembered a school trip to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the sea, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

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

“I’m worried that the identical fate that happened at Eccles will happen here and there’ll be bones on the shore. I would feel appalled by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Along the coast lies the burial plot of a ex-soldier who died while working abroad. His mother expressed she lost sleep after discovering her son’s final plot might one day be moved.

“It does disturb me to consider this won’t be his permanent home,” she said. “For us it’s an significant place to go.”

In her view, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to disturb existing graves. “What I would choose for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Searching for Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the challenge has resulted in grieving relatives feeling exasperated and anxious.

Several families are calling for more sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to permit burials to continue for now. Others argue the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager said the burial sites were owned and managed of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is up to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. We need productive local conversations to find the right answers for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also referenced a doctrine in resurrection, providing a theological perspective on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.