Full Breakdown
Church of England Issues Historic Apology for Forced Adoption Practices
6/18/2026, 11:47:42 PM
Background & Context
From 1949 to 1976, the Church of England was linked to mother-and-baby homes where unmarried pregnant women were placed and often pressured to surrender their infants for adoption. The practice reflected a broader culture of shame surrounding out-of-wedding births.
Apology Announcement (June 18 2026)
Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally issued a televised apology on 18 June 2026, acknowledging “pain, trauma and stigma” and stating that the shame imposed on survivors was “wrong”. The address accompanied a two-year research report on the homes.
Scope of the Practice
- About 185,000 children were placed for adoption between 1949 and 1976.
- Church records indicate involvement in roughly 100 homes; other estimates suggest up to 200 facilities.
- Survivors describe tens of thousands of mothers, many under 18, affected.
Official Response
Mullally expressed profound sorrow, pledged better record-keeping, and announced parish-level support services. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government will soon issue its own apology, with the Prime Minister expected to speak in Parliament. Bishop Joanne Grenfell called the moment a “time of reckoning”.
Criticism
The Adult Adoptee Movement called the apology “minimising, passive and distancing” and said it offered “no admission of wrongdoing”. The Independent noted adoptee groups felt the statement “virtually ignores adoptees” and lacked consultation.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors reported being forced to do menial labour as “correction” while pregnant, and staff documents described babies as “raw material” for adoption agencies, reflecting dehumanising attitudes.
Conflicting Data & Gaps
Church sources cite about 100 homes; other research suggests up to 200. Records are incomplete, with many lost, preventing a precise count of affected mothers and babies. Not all forced adoptions involved Church homes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today, we say to each of you: The shame you were made to feel was wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” — Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury
- “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,” — Sarah Mullally
- “shocking, absolutely shocking for women and babies to be separated with no consent” — Sarah Mullally
- “from which the adoption agencies get their raw material” — staff member, mother-and-baby home (as quoted in the Church report)
- “not a meaningful apology” — Adult Adoptee Movement spokesperson
Next Steps
The government will issue its apology within weeks, and the Prime Minister will address the issue in Parliament. The Church’s redress scheme, due to launch by the end of 2026, will consider payments from £5,000 to £660,000 plus counselling and spiritual support.
