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Families whose relatives 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 concerning the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Danger to Historic Churchyards

The council have singled out three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being in danger of being consumed by the sea in the next few generations.

A newly published study on the issue sets out a range of possible actions, from doing nothing to exhuming remains and reburying them in safer locations. Officials say it is for the community to decide how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. They wanted this to be their last home, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Estimates suggest at least a portion of one churchyard could be claimed by 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,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

A local business owner recalled a school trip to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the sea, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that the deceased will just get carried away to sea. They won’t. People will collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing 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 skeletons on the shore. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Along the shoreline is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while serving abroad. His mother expressed she could not sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It truly trouble me to consider this won’t be his permanent home,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant site to visit.”

She believes, new interments should stop but says it is premature to exhume current plots. “What I would choose for now is to do nothing and watch carefully, but an early decision needs to be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Answers and Clarity

An absence of consensus over the timing and method to handle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Several families are calling for more coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to permit burials to proceed for now. Different voices contend the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotive,” said one relative. “The official study was thorough, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

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

It was also stated there was time to consider all the choices. “We are talking many years before it begins getting lost.”

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

The prospect of losing the historic sites was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but church representatives also referenced a doctrine in resurrection, providing a spiritual perspective on the physical loss of hallowed earth.