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Families of people laid to rest in resting places at risk from shoreline retreat argue that a lack of decision over how to address the issue is causing them avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their loved ones.

A Looming Danger to Historic Churchyards

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

A newly published study on the situation sets out a series of possible actions, from doing nothing to disinterring bodies and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for the community to determine how to proceed.

“At the moment we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. My parents intended this to be their last home, 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 sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “In my view it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident remembered a school trip to the nearby village 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. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to the ocean. That is not the case. Individuals will collect remains as mementos and go plundering graves in search of treasures. That is completely disrespectful.”

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

A Soldier's Grave in Peril

Along the shoreline is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while working overseas. His mother said she could not sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be relocated.

“It does disturb me to think this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important place to go.”

In her view, new interments should stop but says it is premature to disturb existing graves. “My preference for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an early decision must be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Clarity

An absence of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Some are calling for additional sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to permit funerals to proceed for now. Others argue the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The official study was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A local official confirmed the burial sites were owned and managed of the church authorities. “In the end it is down to them to decide the direction to take. Our role is here to assist 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.”

“There is no unified opinion on what should be done yet. We need good local conversations to find the appropriate answers for each village.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, providing a spiritual viewpoint on the physical loss of hallowed earth.