Historic Adoptions

Trigger Warning:

This page includes references to historical adoption practices, including the separation of mothers and babies, stigma, and experiences of trauma and lasting emotional harm. Details of support services may be found at churchofengland.org/adoption

The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner has expressed his heartfelt sadness and sorrow at the pain and distress experienced by some connected to mother and baby homes with the Church of England. This follows the Church of England’s apology (18 June 2026) for its role where historical adoption practices fell short of the practice we would expect today, particularly in mother and baby homes. Mothers and adoptees who came into contact with these homes have described the profound and lasting impact of such experiences.

To date, six organisations have been identified within the Diocese of Chester, and we are concerned to understand as much as possible about the practices in these homes. We invite those with lived experience of these organisations, as mothers, adopters, adoptees, wider family relatives, or perhaps those who were employed in these homes, to be in touch if they would like to have a conversation.”

Organisations operating between 1912-1980s with affiliation to the Diocese of Chester

1 Birkenhead: St Faith's Home for Girls

2 Chester: St Bridget's Mother and Baby Home

3 Crewe: St Hilda's

4 Handforth: Knowle House

5 Hoylake: Hoylake Mother and Baby Home

6 Warrington: Home of the Good Samaritan

Bishop Mark said: “We are seeking to learn about the life and work of these homes, both factual information and personal stories and experiences of those affected. We want to help the communities of this diocese understand what has happened, offer support where appropriate, and  engage humbly with the deep questions it raises. We also want to continue to pray for, and support where appropriate, all those offering fostering and adoption services today: their work and professionalism is a vital gift of security to many of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

Giving the apology on behalf of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, said:

“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 firsthand 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.

All the information about this apology and the report can be found on the Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/adoption.

Have you been affected by this story?

If you need to report abuse or harm linked to mother and baby or adoption practices, report these to the police on 101.

Would you like to share your experiences? Please email: adoption@chester.anglican.org or complete an information form using the link below.

PRIVACY NOTICE

We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. When you provide information through this website, we will use it only for the purposes for which it was collected, in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

INFORMATION FOR JOURNALISTS

Press enquiries: media requests for information or interviews should be emailed to comms@chester.anglican.org

Finding Church of England support

If you are looking for spiritual or pastoral support, please complete the online form or email adoption@chester.anglican.org and an appropriate person from the central support team will contact you.

If you have a safeguarding concern, please report to the police using 101 and you may wish to contact our diocesan safeguarding team: safeguarding@chester.anglican.org or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.

Details of further specialist support:

Government Resources:

The Adoption Contact Register

Website: https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records/the-adoption-contact-register

Phone: 0300 123 1837

Specialist advice:

National PAC-UK Advice Line

The National PAC-UK Advice Line provides independent, confidential advice and information for people affected by adoption, special guardianship and other forms of permanent care. The service is staffed by qualified and experienced PAC-UK counsellors and social workers with specialist expertise in these areas.

Website www.family-action.org.uk/pac-uk

Email advice@pac-uk.org 

Phone 0300 1800 090

FamilyConnect Advice Line

Delivered by Family Action's adoption support agency PAC-UK, FamilyConnect provides information, support and guidance on tracing and reconnecting with family members, the services available, and whether you may be eligible for funding.

Website www.familyconnect.org.uk

Email familyconnect@pac-uk.org

Phone 0300 1800 205

Adoption UK

(Practical suggestions, information and encouragement with signposting to specialist help)

Website: https://www.adoptionuk.org/information-and-support-service

Information and support service: 0300 666 0006

Email: informationsupport@adoptionuk.org.uk

Additional services:

Barnardo’s Adoption Support 

(Support for adoptees, birth families, and adoptive families) Website: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/adopt/link-adoption-support-service

Email: link.referralhub@barnardos.org.uk

Samaritans 24/7

(emotional support for anyone in distress)

Website: https://www.samaritans.org

Phone: 116 123

Advice if you are looking for local adoption records

The Diocese of Chester does not hold records relating to the homes listed, however we have identified the following sources of information which may be useful.

Cheshire Archives has records for St Bridget’s Home EDM 18 St Bridget's Mother and Baby Home. Please note the offices are closed for visitors until Autumn 2026.

All enquiries relating to individuals are referred to Adoption Matters Liverpool Rd, Chester Adoption Matters | Children's adoption charity

The National Archives Discovery Website has an entry for Knowle House, Handforth.

Finding your birth certificate

If you know your full original birth name, you will need to apply via the General Register Office for a copy of your original birth certificate.

If you don’t know your full birth name you will need to write to the Registrar General explaining that you are adopted and what your adopted name was, giving your date of birth. You will need to apply for a copy of your birth certificate under Schedule 2 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

Who/what is the Registrar General?

A Crown-appointed statutory officer who administers, through the General Register Office, the Registration services relating to all births (including adoptions), marriages, civil partnerships and deaths in England and Wales.

What other information may exist?

When an adoption order has been made it is recorded on the Adopted Children’s Register. The Registrar General also keeps a confidential register, not available to the public, that provides the link between the birth details and the adoption details for every adopted person. Only adoption agencies including regional RAAs, local authorities, voluntary adoption agencies and adoption support agencies that are registered to provide intermediary services can access this information. The intermediary agency may also be advised which court made the adoption order so an enquiry about where the adoption records are held can be made there too.

What if I am having difficulty finding the agency that placed my child?

Particularly during the 1970s, a lot of the voluntary agencies that previously played a major part in arranging adoptions ceased to exist, or changed direction and took on different types of work. However, if the agency closed, then by law they had to make arrangements for the safe keeping of their adoption records. Often, they would be passed to the local authority in their area or on to another voluntary adoption agency.

When a voluntary adoption agency continues to exist but no longer actively provides an adoption service, it is more than likely that they would have retained responsibilities for their records and have kept them in their archive. Sometimes it is difficult to find the agency because they have changed their name. For example, in the case of local authorities, this may have happened when boundaries were redrawn, and large counties or cities were split into smaller administrative areas. Voluntary adoption agencies may also have had different names over the years.

Coram BAAF’s Adoption Search and Reunion website provides a locating record data base This searchable data base provides a full listing of adoption agencies and where adoption records are currently held with additional information about mother and baby homes.

If you are unsure where to start your enquiries, asking advice from an adoption support agency or the adoption service of the local authority in which you live could be a useful first step.

What happens if the adoption was arranged privately?

Sometimes adoptions were made by private arrangement, for example by the local GP or vicar, and in these situations, there will not be records held by an adoption agency. However, as explained above, there is always information to enable links to be made from the person’s birth name to their adoptive name. This information is kept at the General Register Office. Furthermore, there are a number of agencies which can assist you with your enquiries, in particular, adoption support agencies.

What happens if I live abroad?

If you live abroad this should not deter you from making an enquiry. Agencies can liaise with each other, although it may be a more complex process, for instance, to establish your identity if you cannot meet in person with a worker in England or Wales. Again, if you know the agency that arranged the adoption then contact them and they should be able to suggest ways in which they can assist in providing you with the advice and information you need. Alternatively, an adoption support agency should be in a position to give general guidance. Although sometimes things are more complicated because of language or distance, it can also be because the legislation is different to England and Wales, as it is Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

A prayer for all those whose lives have suffered rejection, separation or grief

For all who have carried burdens of shame and fear, that they may know the comfort of God’s love:

Lord, have mercy.

For children separated from their mothers, and for all families divided, that God may bring restoration and peace:

Lord, have mercy.

For those whose dignity was denied and whose voices were not heard, that they may be honoured and upheld:

Lord, have mercy.

For all who carry wounds of body, mind, or spirit, that Christ may bring healing and freedom:

Lord, have mercy.

For the hope of new creation, that sorrow may be turned to joy and every tear wiped away:

Lord, have mercy.

Loving God, you hear the cry of the afflicted and gather the outcast. Look with mercy on all whose lives have suffered rejection, loss, or neglect.

Bind up the wounds of the broken-hearted, assure them of your love, and grant us grace to walk in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

To date, six organisations have been identified within the Diocese of Chester, and we are concerned to understand as much as possible about the practices in these homes. We invited those with lived experience of that organisations have been identified within the Diocese of Chester, and we are concerned to understand as much as possible about the practices in these homes. We invite those with lived experience of these organisations, as mothers, adopters, adoptees, wider family relatives, or perhaps those who were employed in these homes, to be in touch if they would like to have a conversation.”

This follows the Church of England’s apology for its role where historical adoption practices fell short of the practice we would expect today, particularly in mother and baby homes. Mothers and adoptees who came into contact with these homes have described the profound and lasting impact of such experiences.

Organisations operating between 1912-1980s with affiliation to the Diocese of Chester

1 Birkenhead: St Faith's Home for Girls

2 Chester: St Bridget's Mother and Baby Home

3 Crewe: St Hilda's

4 Handforth: Knowle House

5 Holylake: Hoylake Mother and Baby Home

6 Warrington: Home of the Good Samaritan

pened to people in the care of Christian communities.

Finding Church of England support

If you are looking for spirital or pastoral support, please complete the online form or email adoption@chester.anglican.org and an appropriate person from the central support team will contact you.

If you have a safeguarding concern, please report to the police using 101 and you may wish to contact our diocesan safeguarding team: safeguarding@chester.anglican.org or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.

Details of further specialist support