The Bishop of Bath and Wells is encouraging people to come forward with their stories after the Church of England issued a formal apology for its historic forced adoptions.

Between 1949 and 1976, about 185,000 children born to unmarried mothers in England and Wales were placed for adoption due to societal stigma.

The Church of England helped to run, or was responsible for, about 100 mother and baby homes. The church has since said it was "profoundly sorry" for its role in the practice.

Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells, described it as "deeply painful" to think of the severed bonds, and offered support to those affected.

Vik Fielder, who lives on the Quantocks in Somerset, was adopted when she was seven days old after her unmarried 18-year-old mother was forced to give her up.

The pair never got the chance to meet, as her mother died 20 years later.

"[The apology] was poor. As an adoptee we weren't mentioned.

"So from our point of view they haven't acknowledged any of the harm they caused us, and by dint of that, the harm they caused our mothers," she said.

Beasley told the BBC: "The principle person I've learnt from is Vik herself.

"It was deeply moving to listen to their experiences, the way it had shaped their lives since, and the hurt and harm they had endured.

"I think all of us know that one of the strongest bonds that we have in our life is between us and our mothers.

"At the beginning of our lives, they're so important for our security.

"Nowadays our approach to this has transformed.

"I want to salute those who offer adoption where that's not possible, because that's an extraordinary gift into the life of a vulnerable child," he said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has also apologised for the practice.

"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."

Dame Sarah acknowledged that some birth mothers affected by the practice have since passed away, saying she has a "deep regret that this apology comes too late".

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