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Loved ones of people laid to rest in resting places at risk from coastal erosion say that indecision over how to tackle the problem is causing them unnecessary distress concerning the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Danger to Historic Churchyards

Local authorities have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being consumed by the ocean in the next few generations.

A recent report on the situation sets out a series of possible actions, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for the community to decide how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It causes me distress. My parents wanted this to be their final resting place, but it won't be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections suggest at least part of one graveyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you consider what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as mementos and go plundering graves in search of valuables. That is completely disrespectful.”

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

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Along the coast lies the grave of a ex-soldier killed while working overseas. His mother said she could not sleep after learning her child's grave might one day be relocated.

“It does disturb me to consider this won’t be his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to exhume current plots. “My preference for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over when and how to tackle the problem has left grieving relatives feeling exasperated and anxious.

Several families want more coastal protections to slow the inevitable erosion and to permit burials to proceed for now. Different voices contend the time for moving graves 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 all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

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

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the options. “We are talking many years before it begins getting lost.”

“There is no unified opinion on what should happen yet. It requires good community discussions to discover the right answers for each community.”

The prospect of losing the historic sites was described as one of “profound sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also referenced a doctrine in life after death, offering a theological perspective on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.