🔗 Share this article

Families whose relatives laid to rest in resting places vulnerable to shoreline retreat say that indecision over how to tackle the problem is causing them unnecessary distress concerning the final resting places of their loved ones.

An Impending Danger to Historic Churchyards

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

A recent report on the situation sets out a series of possible actions, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in safer locations. Authorities say it is for local people to decide how to proceed.

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

Estimates suggest at least part of one churchyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some locals worry 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,” one said.

Haunted by the Past

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the nearby village of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the sea, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that the deceased will just get washed out to the ocean. They won’t. People will collect remains as mementos and go plundering graves looking for valuables. That is completely disrespectful.”

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

A Soldier's Resting Place in Peril

Along the coast lies the burial plot of a ex-soldier killed while working overseas. His mother said she could not sleep after learning her child's final plot might one day be moved.

“It truly trouble me to think this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important place to go.”

In her view, new interments should stop but says it is too soon to disturb existing graves. “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 reached.”

Searching for Solutions and Clarity

An absence of agreement over the timing and method to handle the challenge has left bereaved families feeling frustrated and anxious.

Several families are calling for additional sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to permit burials to continue for now. Different voices argue the moment for relocation is drawing near.

“It is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The official study was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is taken forward. And everybody is washing their hands over who is responsible.”

A local official said the graveyards were under the care of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is up to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to help support them through that journey with residents.”

He added there was time to weigh all the options. “This concerns many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should be done yet. It requires productive community discussions to find the right answers for each community.”

The prospect of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “immense sorrow for the area,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in life after death, providing a spiritual perspective on the physical loss of hallowed earth.