A NUMBER of bishops have added their own apologies to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s for the pain, trauma, and stigma experienced by women who gave birth in Church of England mother-and-baby homes in the mid-20th century, issued on Thursday. Some of these were directly run by dioceses; others were run by independent or semi-independent committees, with different levels of church oversight (News, 18 June).
Archbishop Mullally issued her apology on Thursday alongside a new report from the Archbishops’ Council: Historical Adoption Practices: Research into Church of England affiliated mother and baby homes 1949-1976. It is estimated that tens of thousands of mothers and babies resided in about 200 homes in this period.
“We have heard first-hand the accounts of mothers who were separated from their babies in circumstances where they had very few meaningful choices,” the Archbishop said. “Today, we say to each of you: the shame you were made to feel was wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Rather, we are deeply ashamed that this happened to people in the care of Christian communities.”
A parliamentary report published in 2022 estimated that 185,000 children born in England and Wales to unmarried mothers were put up for adoption during the same period.
In response to the publication of the Church of England’s report, some bishops listed historically Church-run homes in the dioceses but explained that they were not aware of abusive behaviour at the time. Others have appealed for survivors and others to come forward and inform them if they know of any wrongdoing.
In Liverpool, the list of Church of England-affiliated homes identified four homes connected with what was then the Liverpool Diocesan Board for Social and Moral Welfare. They are Laurel House, Liverpool; St Monica’s, Liverpool; St Margaret’s, Wigan, and Home of the Good Samaritan, Grappenhall.
In a joint statement, the Interim Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Ruth Worsley, the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Simon Robinson, and the Dean of Liverpool, the Very Revd Dr Sue Jones, said: “We recognise that, for many, this will not be history. It will be a lived reality still carried in families, memories and unanswered questions.
“We are sorry for the part the Church played in a wider system which too often failed to treat women and children with the compassion, dignity and love at the heart of the Christian faith.”
The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, said: “It is deeply distressing to read the report . . . detailing some of the historic adoption practices in homes affiliated with the Church of England. We rejoice with families that were brought together by the work of these agencies and give thanks for every act of kindness and care; at the same time as being horrified by the bad practices highlighted in the report.”
The diocese of Carlisle, where allegations centred around St Monica’s, the former maternity home in Kendal which closed in 1970, said: “We acknowledge the deep hurt of those with lived experience of forced adoption and those who suffered abuse at the hands of people who should have cared for them and their children.
“We also acknowledge with deep regret the accusations of abuse and malpractice which have centred on the diocese’s former St Monica’s. . . It is a matter of deep shame that there are those who were not afforded the appropriate care. We are truly sorry.”
The diocese of Winchester endorsed the Church’s apology and announced that it will be holding a service of lament and reflection on 11 July, at St Bartholomew’s, Winchester.
“Our own research has shown that our diocese ran one maternity home in Winchester and a further seven smaller homes and shelters in Basingstoke, Southampton, Bournemouth, Alton, the Channel Islands,” it said.
The diocese said that, as a result of an appeal for information that it launched last year, “We have engaged with a number of people, both mothers and adoptees, who have bravely shared their stories with us. We want to offer our deepest thanks to these women and pay tribute to their generous engagement with our research.”
In Bath & Wells, the Bishop, Dr Michael Beasley, said: “The research that led to this apology is the beginning of the work to learn more fully about our Church’s involvement in historical adoption practices. This is learning that we shall be undertaking here in Bath & Wells.”
The Acting Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Paul Davies, issued a letter to the diocese, saying: “Within our own diocese, we are aware of five Church of England-affiliated homes or shelters that once operated in Woking, Guildford, Haslemere, Walton-on-Thames, Dorking and Aldershot. While we are not aware of the detailed personal accounts from these particular homes, we remain mindful that individuals may now want to come forward to share their stories.”
In Blackburn, the Bishop, the Rt Revd Philip North, said: “I fully endorse and echo the apology that the Church of England has made today for its role in historic adoption practices. It is deeply harrowing to read of the experiences of some of those with lived experiences of such institutions and the lifelong impact that poor practice has had on them.”
The diocese of Hereford said that, between the mid 1860s and the early 1970s, the diocese was responsible for two Church-run mother-and-baby homes: St Martin’s Home, and The Haven. After the early 1970s, the homes passed into the control of the county council, before their eventual closure in 1989.
The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Richard Jackson, said: “We recognise that we (the Church of England) played a role in the widespread adoption practices that removed children from their mothers and families during the immediate post-war period, in ways that would not be considered acceptable today.
“We lament our involvement in these practices and for the trauma and hurt caused to women and children with this lived experience, whilst recognising that treatment in the homes, at the time, was often delivered with compassion for the mothers and babies.”
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, identified three institutions that were in the diocese — St Paul’s Lodge, Great Yarmouth; Lyndene Shelter, Kings Lynn; St Bridget’s Shelter, Lowestoft — and said: “The Church of England played a significant role as part of a wider system shaped by social attitudes and legislation which often stigmatised unmarried mothers. The apology reflects the deep sorrow felt by senior church leaders for the pain, trauma and stigma experienced — and still carried — by many people affected.”
The diocese of Southwell & Nottingham said that it had learned of at least nine homes believed to have been affiliated with the Church of England across the diocese, operating between 1949 and 1976, and appealed for relevant information.
The diocese of Salisbury mentioned four relevant historical mother-and-baby homes: Girls’ Hostel, Devizes; St Gabriel’s Home, Weymouth; St Monica’s, Poole; and Hope House, Salisbury.
The Acting Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Karen Gorham, said: “I express my sorrow for the pain, trauma and stigma experienced — and still carried — by many people because of historical adoption practices in homes affiliated to the Church of England. This pain is still felt by many people today and has profoundly affected the course of their lives . . .
“This all took place at a different time; in a society that often valued secrecy and respectability above individual need; and where well-meaning responses so often lacked compassion and care. The Church was part of that society.”
The diocese of Sheffield cited the Church-run St Agatha’s mother-and-baby home in Sheffield. It closed in 1973. The Bishop of Sheffield, the Dr Pete Wilcox, said that the Church’s apology was “an important and sobering moment”.
He continued: “We recognise the deep and lasting pain experienced by many mothers, children and families, including those whose lives were touched by homes connected to this diocese.
“We are deeply sorry for the harm that was caused, and for the ways in which people were not always treated with the dignity, compassion and care they deserved.”
The diocese of Southwark has identified up to 20 mother-and-baby homes that, it said, may have been connected in some way to the diocese.
“I wholeheartedly echo Archbishop Sarah’s apology,” the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, said. “While we know that some had positive experiences of these homes, the research reveals that there were many, many failings and cruelties associated with them. The voices of those harmed by these institutions must be heard — and I thank them for their courage in sharing their stories.”
The diocese of Truro acknowledged “the deep and lasting impact of historic adoption practices and the experience of mothers and babies connected to former mother-and-baby homes in Cornwall”.
It continued: “We recognise that, for many, these experiences were marked by trauma, loss, stigma and a lack of choice. We are profoundly sorry for the pain that has been caused to individuals, families and communities.”
The diocese of Lichfield published a joint statement from five bishops: the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Michael Ipgrave; the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Sarah Bullock; the Bishop of Stafford, the Rt Revd Matthew Parker; the Bishop of Wolverhampton, Dr Tim Wambunya, and the Bishop of Oswestry, the Rt Revd Paul Thomas.
They said: “We pay tribute to the tenacious research that has shed light on the actions and events of the past. It is our prayer that this apology is the beginning of bringing healing and recovery to those affected and to bringing lament for the errors of the past from which we pledge learning more deeply what it means to recognise the image of God in others.
“To anyone affected by this news, the Diocese of Lichfield is here for you.”
The bishops for the diocese of Oxford — which said it was aware of around 12 homes that are in some way connected to the diocese — issued a joint statement. The Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Mary Gregory; the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Gavin Collins, and the Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Revd Dave Bull, said: “We grieve for the families who have been separated by force and cannot get back what they lost, and who have lived with lifelong consequences.”
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, said: “The testimonies of those who have shared their own personal experiences, are deeply moving. I am grateful for their courage which has helped us to better understand what took place and the harm that was caused to so many people.”
The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, said that the apology “marks an important and necessary moment of truth-telling and accountability”. She continued: “I acknowledge with deep sorrow the pain, trauma and lasting harm experienced by many women and children who lived in Church of England-affiliated homes during the post-war period.
“For many survivors, these experiences have shaped the course of their lives, and the effects continue to be felt today. No apology can undo the suffering that was endured. However, it is right that the Church listens carefully to those who have shared their experiences, recognises the failures that occurred, and accepts responsibility for the harm that was caused.”
Mark Russell, the CEO of the Children’s Society, welcomed the Church’s apology, which he said was “an important acknowledgement of the pain and sadness many women and families have lived with as a result of historical adoption practices”.
He continued: “At the Children’s Society, we recognise the harm that historic adoption practice has had, and continues to have, on adopted people, birth parents and the wider family.
“We have acknowledged our own role in this history and apologised for it. We believe that honesty and openness about the past are essential to rebuilding trust.”
Phil Frampton, a survivor and campaigner from Manchester, who was born in 1953 at Rosemundy mother-and-baby home in St Agnes, Cornwall, an Anglican institution, said: “The apology is a huge and historic victory for all those unmarried mothers and their children who had committed no crime but were persecuted by the Church.
He told the Guardian: “The Church has much more to do to undo the harm it did before it can go near restoring moral authority, but the Archbishop’s apology will help lift decades of shame and guilt off the shoulders of survivors and place it where it really belongs — on those of the Church and the Governments it served.”
The apology faced some criticism, however. The Adult Adoptee Movement, a survivors’ organisation, said there had been “no offer of redress or support.”
The group said: “The statement given by the Archbishop of Canterbury today is not a meaningful apology. For many of us, engaging with the Church in their apology process was distressing and retraumatising.”