Blessings for Stillborn Babies

The Bishop of Birkenhead, the Rt. Revd. Julie Conalty, and The Revd Sr. Janet Arnold from Holy Cross, Woodchurch, led a poignant ecumenical memorial service on the Wirral with other local ministers to remember thousands of stillborn babies who were buried in unmarked communal graves during the 20th century at Landican Cemetery.

Featured on the regional news programme, BBC Northwest Tonight, the service, organised by Wirral Council,  brought together faith leaders, bereaved families, and community representatives to acknowledge a painful chapter in local and national history.

Between the 1930s and early 1980s, it was common practice across the UK for babies who were stillborn or died shortly after birth, to be buried in mass graves at cemeteries such as Landican, Bebington, Frankby, and Plymyard, with no markers and without parental consent or knowledge. Recent investigations suggest that more than 1,200 babies were buried in communal graves in Wirral alone, with over 1,000 at Landican Cemetery.

Bishop Julie explains: “After the service, a prayer of blessing was prayed for each baby at their grave site. This was particularly significant as most babies were buried, unbeknown to their families, in unconsecrated ground and with no funeral rite or prayers of commendation and committal. 

 “This was an opportunity to right a wrong done to these families and their babies, in as much as we can. This memorial is a step toward healing and ensuring that every life, however brief, is honoured with dignity.”

The event included prayers from representatives of the Roman Catholic, Unitarian and Anglican churches, as well as readings from bereaved parents who have spent decades searching for answers. Candles were lit as the names of individual babies were read out.

Campaigners, including Gina Jacobs—who located her son’s resting place at Landican after 53 years, continue to call for a formal government apology and improved access to burial records. Wirral Council has pledged to digitise its burial registers and is urging national support to address this issue.

Background: The practice of burying stillborn babies in unmarked graves was widespread until the 1980s. Families were often told not to see their babies and were given little information about their burial. Many parents only discovered the truth decades later, prompting national campaigns for recognition and change.