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Families whose relatives buried in resting places vulnerable to shoreline retreat state that indecision on how best to tackle the problem is causing them unnecessary distress about the eternal homes of their loved ones.

An Impending Threat to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley 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 series of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in safer locations. Authorities say it is for local people to determine how to proceed.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It causes me distress. They intended this to be their last home, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Projections suggest at least part of one graveyard 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,” a farmer stated.

Haunted by the Past

One resident remembered a school trip to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has largely disappeared into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that the deceased will just get washed out to the ocean. They won’t. Individuals will take bones as mementos and go grave robbing in search of valuables. That is completely undignified.”

“I’m worried that the identical fate that befell 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

Further up the coast is situated the burial plot of a former paratrooper killed while serving overseas. His mother expressed she lost sleep after discovering her child's grave might one day be moved.

“It does trouble me to think this may not remain his permanent resting place,” she said. “For us it’s an important place to go.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to disturb current plots. “My preference for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an early decision must be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Seeking Answers and Certainty

An absence of consensus over the timing and method to handle the challenge has left grieving relatives feeling frustrated and worried.

Some want additional sea defences to slow the inevitable erosion and to allow burials to continue for now. Different voices contend the time for moving graves is approaching.

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

A coastal manager confirmed the graveyards were owned and managed of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is down to them to decide the direction to take. We are here to help support them through that process with communities.”

He added there was ample time to weigh all the choices. “We are talking many years before it starts to be lost.”

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

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