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Loved ones of people buried in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that indecision over how to tackle the problem is creating avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their loved ones.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Churchyards

Local authorities have singled out three burial grounds in the villages of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being at risk of being consumed by the sea in the coming decades.

A recent report on the issue details a range of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and relocating them in safer sites. Officials say it is for the community to decide how to proceed.

“At the moment we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. They intended this to serve as their final resting place, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Projections indicate at least a portion of one graveyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Past

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the water, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to the ocean. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing looking for treasures. That is completely undignified.”

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

A Soldier's Resting Place in Peril

Further up the coast is situated the grave of a former paratrooper who died while serving abroad. His mother said she could not sleep after discovering her son’s final plot might one day be relocated.

“It truly disturb me to consider this may not remain his permanent home,” she said. “For us it’s an significant place to go.”

She believes, new interments should stop but says it is too soon to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Seeking Answers and Certainty

The lack of consensus over the timing and method to handle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and worried.

Some want additional coastal protections to slow the inevitable erosion and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Different voices argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotional,” a family member stated. “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 responsible.”

A coastal manager said the burial sites were owned and managed of the local diocese. “In the end it is down to them to choose the path to take. We are here to assist them through that journey with residents.”

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

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should be done yet. We need good community discussions to find the appropriate answers for each community.”

The possibility of losing the historic sites was labeled one of “profound sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, offering a spiritual perspective on the temporal loss of hallowed earth.