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Loved ones whose relatives buried in resting places vulnerable to shoreline retreat argue that a lack of decision on how best to tackle the issue is creating avoidable anguish concerning the final resting places of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Historic Churchyards

The council have identified three burial grounds in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being in danger of being engulfed by the sea in the next few generations.

A newly published study on the issue details a series of possible actions, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and reburying them in safer locations. Officials say it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. They wanted this to serve as their last home, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Projections suggest at least part of one graveyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Haunted by the Past

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the water, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. That is not the case. People will take bones as mementos and go plundering graves in search of valuables. That is completely disrespectful.”

“I’m worried that the identical fate that befell at Eccles will happen at Happisburgh and there’ll be bones on the shore. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the shoreline is situated the grave of a former paratrooper who died while working overseas. His mother said she lost sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be relocated.

“It truly trouble 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 current plots. “My preference for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Clarity

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the problem has resulted in grieving relatives feeling frustrated and anxious.

Several families are calling for more coastal protections to slow 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 emotional,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official confirmed the graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is up to them to choose the direction to take. We are here to assist them through that journey with residents.”

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the choices. “This concerns many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to discover the right answers for each village.”

The prospect of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “profound sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also referenced a doctrine in resurrection, offering a theological viewpoint on the temporal loss of sacred ground.