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Families whose relatives buried in resting places vulnerable to shoreline retreat state that a lack of decision over how to address the problem is causing them unnecessary distress concerning the final resting places of their loved ones.

A Looming Threat to Historic Graveyards

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

A newly published study on the situation sets out a series of possible actions, from taking no action to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure sites. 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. They wanted this to be their final resting place, but it won't be because of the encroaching sea.”

Estimates indicate at least a portion of one graveyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents fear 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 Past

A local business owner recalled a childhood visit to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the sea, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that the deceased will just get carried away to the ocean. That is not the case. People will take bones as souvenirs and go plundering graves in search of treasures. It’s completely undignified.”

“I fear that the same thing that happened at Eccles will occur at Happisburgh and there’ll be bones on the beach. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the coast is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while serving abroad. His mother said she lost sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to think this may not remain his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant site to visit.”

In her view, new burials should stop but says it is too soon to disturb current plots. “My preference for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

The lack of agreement over when and how to tackle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and worried.

Several families want additional sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to permit funerals to proceed for now. Different voices contend the moment for relocation is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And everybody is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A local official confirmed the graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “In the end it is down to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. It requires productive local conversations to find the appropriate answers for each community.”

The prospect of the loss of the historic sites was labeled one of “profound sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in life after death, providing a theological viewpoint on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.