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Families of people laid to rest in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision over how to tackle the problem is causing them unnecessary distress about the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Danger to Ancient Churchyards

The council have singled out three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being consumed by the ocean in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the situation sets out a range of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and reburying them in more secure sites. Authorities say it is for local people to decide how to move forward.

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

Projections indicate at least part of one churchyard could be claimed by the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

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

“You could see people’s bones,” 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 collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing in search of valuables. That is completely disrespectful.”

“I fear that the identical fate that befell at Eccles will occur here and there’ll be bones on the beach. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Along the shoreline is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while serving overseas. His parent expressed she lost sleep after discovering her son’s final plot might one day be relocated.

“It does trouble me to think this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “For us it’s an important site to visit.”

In her view, new interments should stop but says it is too soon to exhume current plots. “My preference for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

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

Several families want additional coastal protections to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to continue for now. Different voices argue the time for relocation is approaching.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The council’s report was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official confirmed the burial sites were under the care of the church authorities. “Ultimately 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 consider all the options. “We are talking decades before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should happen yet. We need productive local conversations to discover the right solutions for each village.”

The possibility of losing the historic sites was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, offering a theological viewpoint on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.