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Families whose relatives buried in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that indecision over how to tackle the problem is creating unnecessary distress concerning the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Threat to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities have identified three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being swallowed by the ocean in the next few generations.

A newly published study on the situation details a range of options, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities say it is for local people to determine how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. They intended this to serve as their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Estimates indicate at least part of one churchyard could fall into the waves in the next 80 years, but some locals fear it will happen far earlier. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Troubled by the Past

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. That is not the case. People will take bones as mementos and go grave robbing in search of valuables. That is completely undignified.”

“I fear that the same thing that happened at Eccles will happen at Happisburgh and there’ll be bones on the beach. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Along the shoreline is situated the burial plot of a ex-soldier killed while working abroad. His mother said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s final plot might one day be moved.

“It truly trouble 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 interments should cease but says it is too soon to disturb current plots. “What I would choose for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision must be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

An absence of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the problem has resulted in grieving relatives feeling exasperated and worried.

Some are calling for additional sea defences to delay the inevitable erosion and to allow funerals to continue for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotional,” said one relative. “The official study was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And everybody is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager said the graveyards were owned and managed of the church authorities. “In the end it is up to them to decide the path to take. We are here to assist them through that journey with residents.”

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

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. We need productive community discussions to discover the appropriate answers for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “immense sadness 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.