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Families of people laid to rest in resting places at risk from shoreline retreat say that indecision over how to address the issue is creating unnecessary distress about the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Churchyards

The council have singled out three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being in danger of being swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

A recent report on the situation sets out a series of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure locations. Officials maintain it is for the community to decide how to proceed.

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

Estimates suggest at least part of one churchyard 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 less than 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

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

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. They won’t. Individuals will take bones as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of treasures. It’s completely undignified.”

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

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Along the shoreline is situated the grave of a ex-soldier who died while working abroad. His mother expressed she lost sleep after learning her child's final plot might one day be moved.

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

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

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

An absence of agreement over when and how to handle the problem has left bereaved families feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some want additional sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to continue for now. Different voices argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

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

A local official confirmed the graveyards were owned and managed of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is up to them to choose the direction to take. We are here to help support them through that process with residents.”

It was also stated there was time to weigh all the choices. “We are talking many years before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no common view on what should be done yet. It requires good local conversations to find the right solutions for each community.”

The possibility of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but church representatives also spoke of a belief in life after death, offering a spiritual viewpoint on the temporal loss of sacred ground.