Church of England to apologise for role in forced adoptions

The Church of England is planning to issue an apology for its part in historical forced adoptions, it has been reported.

An estimated 185,000 children were taken from unmarried mothers and adopted between 1949 and 1976 in England and Wales.

About 100 mother and baby homes where unmarried pregnant women would be sent were run by the Church of England, according to the BBC.

The state and other religious organisations also ran such homes.

The Church has prepared a draft statement that says “we are deeply sorry”, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

It did not rule out issuing a public apology but declined to comment further.

The British state has never formally apologised for its role but last month Sir Keir Starmer said there is a “very strong case” for it to do so.

According to the BBC, the Church said in an early draft of its apology: “We acknowledge the lifelong impact of these experiences and the part the Church played in a system shaped by attitudes and behaviours that we now recognise as harmful.

“For the pain and trauma experienced – and still carried – by many women and children in Church-affiliated mother and baby homes, we are deeply sorry.”

Sir Keir’s comments followed a report from the Commons Education Committee which said the Government should offer an unqualified apology as a step towards giving survivors “peace”.

In the interview with ITV News on March 27, the Prime Minister said the practice had been “abhorrent”, adding: “It’s hard to actually believe that it could possibly have happened.”

He would not commit to making an apology but said the Government was “considering” it.

Sir Keir said: “My own view is a very strong case for an apology. I’ve asked the teams to speed up what we’re doing.

“We’ve got to get this right with the campaigners and with all those affected.”

The policy “caused unimaginable trauma” for generations of women and “profound, often devastating impacts” on their children, Education Committee chairwoman Helen Hayes had said.

Her committee has called for a commitment from Government to apologise, followed by ministers working with survivors on the contents and wording.

MPs said the matter must be treated with urgency “given the advancing age of those affected”.

Administrations in Cardiff and Holyrood have previously said sorry to people impacted but campaigners have long called for an apology from the Westminster Government.

Since late 2024 the Church has been investigating its involvement in mother and baby homes and adoption, including through archival research and speaking with those who experienced the practices.

It previously said it would publish an update on its findings “in due course”.