🔗 Share this article

Loved ones of people buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision over how to address the problem is creating avoidable anguish about the final resting places of their loved ones.

An Impending Threat to Historic Churchyards

Local authorities have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being at risk of being swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

A recent report on the situation details a series of options, from doing nothing to disinterring bodies and reburying them in safer 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. They wanted this to serve as their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Estimates suggest at least part of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals fear it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got under 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 remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. People will take bones as mementos and go grave robbing looking for treasures. That is completely disrespectful.”

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

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Further up the shoreline lies the grave of a former paratrooper who died while serving abroad. His parent said she could not sleep after discovering her child's grave might one day be relocated.

“It truly disturb me to consider this may not remain his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important place to go.”

In her view, new burials should stop but says it is premature to disturb current plots. “My preference for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an timely resolution must be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Answers and Clarity

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

Some want more sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to continue for now. Different voices argue the time for relocation is drawing near.

“It is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager said the graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with residents.”

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the options. “We are talking decades before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no common view on what should be done yet. We need good community discussions to discover the right solutions for each village.”

The possibility of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a doctrine in resurrection, providing a theological viewpoint on the physical loss of hallowed earth.