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Church of England Historic Adoption Practices
From Diocese of Peterborough
I am writing to inform you about the apology issued today for the Church of England’s role in historical adoption practices. As you may be aware, a number of mother and baby homes, or similar, were overseen by diocesan moral welfare councils as part of a wider network of provision for unmarried mothers and babies, particularly in the years between 1949 and 1976. There has been growing awareness in recent years of practices within these homes and their outcomes for mothers and their babies. In Peterborough Diocese we are aware of a Mother and Baby home, called St Saviour's, which was based in Northampton and was included in the research the Church of England undertook.
The full apology reads: The Church of England has apologised for its role in historical adoption practices, particularly in mother and baby homes. Mothers and adoptees who came into contact with these homes have described the profound and lasting impact of these experiences. Published alongside new research into these homes, the apology recognises the impact on people affected and sets out the Church’s commitment to listening, learning and responding with honesty and compassion.
Giving the apology on behalf of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, said:
“We are profoundly sorry 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.
“We have heard first hand the accounts of mothers who were separated from their babies in circumstances where they had very few meaningful choices.
“We know that many women and girls were at times made to carry out menial and manual work as a form of ‘correction’.
“We also recognise where prejudice - including on the grounds of race and disability - shaped and defined experiences and outcomes.”
“We are listening to the voices of people affected. They have told us about the pain, shame and indignity experienced both then and now.
“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.
“All of this took place in a society that often valued secrecy and respectability over compassion and care. The Church of England was part of that society and helped to sustain those attitudes. While homes were encouraged to keep mothers and babies together, this often did not happen.
“For many mothers, children, fathers and wider families affected by these practices, the impact has been lifelong.
“These practices are in the past and must never happen again. We will not condone or repeat them. Our commitment now is to listen, to lament and to learn – to acknowledge this history and respond with openness, reflection and learning, and to ensure that this leads to change.
“We pay tribute to the people who have shared their stories and brought these personal and painful experiences to light. Their courage has helped to deepen our understanding of this history and the harm caused, and to ensure that first-hand accounts are heard.
“We want to acknowledge the important and often unseen work of organisations and charities who for many years have supported mothers, adoptees and families affected by adoption, and whose knowledge and care are invaluable.
“We pray for all people who carry these experiences, and for the grace to be a Church where everyone is treated with the love and dignity that comes from being made in God’s image.”
Responding to the apology Bishop Debbie said: "It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the harm inflicted on those who suffered pain, trauma and stigma because of historic adoption practices carried out in homes affiliated to the Church of England and within St Saviour's Home in Northampton in particular.
"We know this took place in a society which was not compassionate to the needs of mothers and children and within Christian communities who did not always care as they should have done, and for that we are truly sorry."
Father Oliver Coss, Rural Dean of Northampton, and the Revd Sue Faulkner, Vicar of St Mary Dallington and St James Northampton where the St Saviour's Mother and Baby home was based said:
“As the Church of England issues a national apology today for the adoption practices that caused so much harm to mothers and babies, we know that the work of this apology is only just beginning today.
“It is now the responsibility of the local church to substantiate the sense of sorrow and regret we feel as we have discovered more about St Saviour’s Home, and of the apology itself, through our actions. Our parishes and clergy, present in every community, are there and prepared to support individuals or families who wish to come forward, or who seek the truth about their childhood, or who seek to create a living memorial to all who suffered in an uncaring past.
"We are committed to ensuring that any culture of shaming or silencing is no longer allowed to go unchallenged, so that the voices of those harmed by abuses of power, whether spiritual or secular, may be heard clearly and with the dignity they deserve.
“We are deeply ashamed that this absence of compassion took root in our town, and this will continue to motivate our desire to better serve human dignity and flourishing. I am profoundly grateful to all who have initiated this process, but especially to those who have bravely stepped forward to share their stories.”
I recognise the impact this may have on people living in your community, now and in the future. While the number of those affected is unknown, some people in your congregations and parishes may have been affected in some way - as mothers, adoptees, or perhaps as those who were employed in the homes. For some, this may be a wish to tell their stories and be heard by their clergy or church family. For others, there may be a need for more specialist support. We encourage you to signpost people to the support services included at the bottom of this letter, or, where appropriate, to diocesan safeguarding colleagues if safeguarding concerns reach the relevant threshold.
I recognise that this is a complex and wide-ranging history, with very different experiences, and the apology does not seek to make a blanket judgement on everyone involved or the motivations of those who worked and cared for others at the time, including those who worked in the homes and adoptive families.
The main support helplines are as follows:
Safe Spaces provides a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church Website: https://www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk Helpline: 0300 303 1056