Diocese of Portsmouth
The Church of England

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Historic adoption

Our diocese's Council for Social Responsibility, which is a separate charity and has assumed various different names since the 1920s, ran a home for mothers and babies which was based in Purbrook. It was involved with adoption - often working together with social services - until the process was handed over entirely to local authorities in 1976.

Over the decades there were a variety of reasons why mothers came there, and why babies were placed for adoption. In some cases, it was because the mothers were unmarried. In other cases, it was because their own families had rejected them and the Church could provide temporary accommodation for the mother and a loving family for their child.

We have seen reports that the national Church of England is preparing to issue an apology for the harm done to mothers in these homes and the forced adoption of their babies. We would also like to apologise for our part in any physical or emotional suffering they experienced while in our care. But we are aware that our charity’s former staff and the adoptive families were attempting to show compassion to those single, unmarried mothers, in the context of a society that often stigmatised them.

We would be pleased to hear from those whose relatives were involved in our mother and baby home, and happy to help in any way we can. However, all of the records relating to individual cases have been handed over to the statutory authorities - as required by law - and we no longer have access to them.

Access to historic records

The diocese and CSR no longer have any records relating to historic adoptions in which they were involved. 

Anyone with queries about their own adoption circumstances should contact Adopt South, whose details are below, and who cover all adoptions that took place within Portsmouth, Southampton, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. They can also assist those who live within this area but whose adoptions took place elsewhere.

Further support

Discover more about the Church of England's role in historic adoption practices here:

For those looking into their past, the following government resources provide guidance on accessing adoption records and tracing family history.

Information for those researching adoption history

Additional support and guidance: