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Loved ones of people buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision on how best to tackle the issue is causing them unnecessary distress about the eternal homes of their loved ones.

An Impending Threat to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities have singled out three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being in danger of being swallowed by the ocean in the coming decades.

A recent report on the situation details a series of options, from doing nothing to disinterring bodies and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for local people to determine how to move forward.

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

Estimates suggest at least a portion of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals worry it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

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

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that the deceased will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. People will take bones as souvenirs and go grave robbing looking for treasures. It’s completely disrespectful.”

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

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Further up the coast is situated the grave of a former paratrooper who died while serving abroad. His parent expressed she lost sleep after discovering her child's grave might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to consider this won’t be his permanent home,” she said. “For us it’s an important site to visit.”

In her view, new burials should stop but says it is too soon to exhume existing graves. “What I would choose for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an timely resolution must be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Seeking Answers and Certainty

The lack of consensus over the timing and method to tackle the challenge has left grieving relatives feeling exasperated and worried.

Several families are calling for additional coastal protections to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to continue for now. Others contend the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was really good, 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 graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is down to them to choose the path to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. We need productive local conversations to find the right answers for each village.”

The possibility of losing the historic sites was labeled one of “profound sorrow for the area,” but church representatives also spoke of a doctrine in life after death, offering a spiritual viewpoint on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.