Church of England Prepares Formal Apology for Historical Forced Adoptions
The Church of England is set to issue a significant apology for its historical role in forced adoptions, according to reports from the BBC. This move follows growing pressure for accountability regarding practices that affected thousands of families between 1949 and 1976.
Scale of the Historical Practice
Between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 children were taken from unmarried mothers and adopted in England and Wales. The Church of England operated approximately 100 mother and baby homes where unmarried pregnant women were sent during this period. These institutions were part of a broader system involving both state and religious organisations that separated mothers from their children.
The draft apology prepared by the Church states clearly: "We are deeply sorry for the pain and trauma experienced – and still carried – by many women and children in Church-affiliated mother and baby homes." The Church has acknowledged the lifelong impact of these experiences and its participation in a system now recognised as harmful.
Political Context and Government Position
The Church's planned apology comes amid increasing calls for official recognition of this historical injustice. While the British state has never formally apologised for its role, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated last month that there is a "very strong case" for such an apology.
In an interview with ITV News on March 27, Sir Keir described the practice as "abhorrent," adding: "It's hard to actually believe that it could possibly have happened." Although he hasn't committed to making an apology, the Prime Minister confirmed the Government is "considering" it and has asked teams to accelerate their work on the matter.
Parliamentary Pressure and Survivor Advocacy
The Education Committee of the House of Commons has been instrumental in pushing for accountability. Committee chairwoman Helen Hayes emphasised that the policy "caused unimaginable trauma" for generations of women and had "profound, often devastating impacts" on their children.
The committee has called for:
- A commitment from Government to issue an apology
- Ministers to work directly with survivors on the contents and wording
- Urgent action given the advancing age of those affected
MPs have stressed that this matter requires immediate attention to provide some measure of peace to survivors who have waited decades for recognition of their suffering.
Devolved Administrations and Church Investigation
While administrations in Cardiff and Holyrood have previously apologised to those impacted, campaigners have long demanded an apology from the Westminster Government. The Church of England has been conducting its own investigation since late 2024, examining its involvement through archival research and conversations with those who experienced these practices firsthand.
The Church previously indicated it would publish an update on its findings "in due course," and the draft apology represents a significant step toward acknowledging its historical responsibility. Although the Church declined to comment further on the potential public apology, it hasn't ruled out issuing one formally.
This development marks a crucial moment in addressing one of Britain's most painful social history chapters, where unmarried mothers faced systematic separation from their children through institutional practices that are now widely condemned as deeply harmful and traumatic.
