Archbishop Sarah Mullally. Image source: Church of England / Archbishop of Canterbury.
What was the Accusation?
The Church of England was accused of playing a significant role in historical forced adoption practices in England and Wales, especially through its connection to mother and baby homes between 1949 and 1976. During this period, unmarried pregnant women and girls were often subjected to intense social stigma, secrecy, and institutional pressure. Many were sent to homes where they gave birth away from public view and, according to survivor testimony and later research, were pressured or coerced into giving up their babies for adoption. The Church of England’s own research found that it was involved in a large number of affiliated homes, potentially more than 200 over time, although records are incomplete and the exact number of affected mothers and children cannot be known with certainty. Around 185,000 children born to unmarried mothers were adopted in England and Wales during the broader period examined.
The accusation against the Church centered not only on its institutional participation in this system, but also on its moral authority and its reinforcement of attitudes that treated unmarried mothers as shameful or in need of correction. Reports and survivor accounts described women and girls performing menial or manual work, being separated from their babies in circumstances where they had little meaningful choice, and experiencing lifelong grief, stigma, and trauma. The apology came as campaigners continued to press both religious institutions and the UK government for formal recognition, support, and redress. Some survivor groups welcomed the Church’s statement as a first step, while others criticized it as incomplete without stronger consultation, concrete support, and meaningful repair.
Key Apologia Strategies:
Mortification, Corrective Action, Bolstering
Video
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpvRT-3fpOQ
Transcript
“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.”
Sources
Archbishop of Canterbury. (2026, June 18). Apology for the Church of England’s role in historical adoption practices. https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/apology-church-englands-role-historical-adoption-practices
BBC News. (2026, June 18). Church of England apologises for role in forced adoptions. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clywz07y942o
Kirke, D. (2026, June 18). Church of England apologizes for role in forced adoptions as recent as the mid-1970s. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/110388642d2f6359a709354331018702
Sky News. (2026, June 18). Archbishop of Canterbury says ‘shame is ours’ as she apologises for Church of England role in forced adoptions. https://news.sky.com/story/archbishop-of-canterbury-says-shame-is-ours-as-she-apologises-for-church-of-england-role-in-forced-adoptions-13555280
Movement for an Adoption Apology. (2026, June 18). Response to Church of England apology for forced adoption. https://movementforanadoptionapology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-06-18-maa-media-release.pdf
