Story perspectives

Church of England Apologizes, Offers £660 k Redress; Survivors Reject

6/18/2026

Left

Church Apology Denounced

Survivors' groups denounced the Church of England’s apology as an insult, citing its lack of meaningful consultation.
The Church of England apologized for forced adoptions in England and Wales from 1949 to 1976.
A redress scheme was announced, offering up to £660,000, as research found many records missing.
The Church pledged therapy, spiritual support and to transfer remaining adoption records to local archives.

Right

Mullally Apologizes

Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, issued the apology during her March 2026 installation ceremony.
The apology addressed Church of England’s role in separating 185,000 children from unmarried mothers in homes between 1949 and 1976.
The report noted 200 homes where women performed domestic work, prayer and penitence.
Adult Adoptee Movement criticized the apology for minimizing harms and deemed government report’s view inhumane.

History

Historical Context

The Adoption Act 1958 received royal assent on 18 December 1958 and took effect 1 April 1959, consolidating earlier adoption law. After the Houghton Committee’s 1972 report condemned its procedures, Parliament enacted the Adoption Act 1976, which repealed the 1958 statute. These reforms created a legal framework that later underpinned public scrutiny of historic forced-adoption practices.

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Church Apology Denounced

Survivors' groups denounced the Church of England’s apology as an insult, citing its lack of meaningful consultation.
The Church of England apologized for forced adoptions in England and Wales from 1949 to 1976.
A redress scheme was announced, offering up to £660,000, as research found many records missing.
The Church pledged therapy, spiritual support and to transfer remaining adoption records to local archives.

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