Babies of unwed mums at 'Dickensian' home honoured
BBCA memorial for dozens of babies born to unmarried mothers, who were badly treated at a home with "Dickensian" conditions, has been unveiled.
The children, thought to be in an unmarked grave, were born to teenagers and young women at St Monica's Maternity Home in Kendal, Cumbria, which was run by the Diocese of Carlisle from 1918 until the 1970s.
The Church of England has apologised for the mistreatment of the mothers.
The service at Parkside Road Cemetery was led by the new Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend Rob Saner-Haigh, who said the home should have been a "sanctuary" but was instead a "place of pain, rejection and heartache".
Bob Chubb found out when he was 65 that his mother had been at the home, after she told him he was not her first child.
He said: "She said she had a stillborn called Faith, but they've since found records that the baby lived for 12 hours.
"I came and laid some flowers this morning, I just hope my mother would be proud.
"Faith was the sister I never knew I had."
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In 2006, Stephen Hindley's wife Judith took her own life near where her baby son was buried.
He believed the "Dickensian" treatment she received at the home in the 1960s, when she was a teenager, led to lifelong trauma and her death.
Speaking after the service, he said: "I feel like a weight has been lifted today.
"I told Judy in the mortuary that I would fight for her, and I haven't stopped.
"I've finally done it and I can't believe how emotional it's been."
Family photoDr Michael Lambert, of Lancaster University, who carried out research into unmarried mothers' homes, said St Monica's was one of the worst he had come across.
He said it was probable that babies died because of a lack of care at the home and it was a "scandal that should have been avoided".
An investigation by North West Tonight in 2023 revealed allegations of historical abuse at the home.
At the time, a Diocese of Carlisle representative said: "Those working at St Monica's were in positions of trust.
"To breach such trust would constitute a terrible dereliction of duty and our heartfelt apologies goes to anyone who has suffered such mistreatment."
A purple rose, called Rhapsody in Blue D, was gifted to the memorial garden by Diana Defries.
She was forced to give up her baby for adoption and is a campaigner for Movement for an Adoption Apology (MAA).
Bishop Saner-Haigh said: "St Monica's should have been a sanctuary, yet for many it became a place of pain, rejection and heartache, which has reverberated through to today.
"Babies and mothers were so precious, but were not treated well by people, by the church, by authorities whose responsibility it was to care for them, to treat them with dignity and compassion.
"I am truly sorry."