Figures from the charity Relate reveal the proportion of people without one good friendship has risen since 2015, from ten per cent to 13 per cent.
Andrew Sercombe, a Christian life coach and the founder of Powerchange, told Premier's News Hour: "Some churches have absolutely got it together ...and make sure that we don't get into little cliques.
"The issue for me is whether, as human beings, do we face outwards or inwards? If we're facing inwards, then that can become quite cliquey."
The survey of 5,000 people also found one in six people never or rarely feel loved, while younger people are twice as likely as pensioners to feel lonely.
Explaining that some people tackle their loneliness badly, Andrew Sercombe went on to say: "Their immediate reaction is to turn to the screen, of course, and go straight onto Facebook or one of the other websites and do their very best to try and find some friends.
"But my definition of finding new friends is getting off your bottom and getting onto your feet; get out there and start talking to people."
Relate concluded the "daily work/life balancing act can take over our lives" in "today's fast-paced world" but asserted that "having friends and feeling part of a community is really important for our health and wellbeing.
Offering his advice for enjoying stronger social relationships, Andrew Sercombe added: "Don't just sit at home. Even walking down the street can be better than doing than that.
"Going to little community things, making sure you're a giver, not a taker. It's as you give to other people, you find the connection grows and they want to give to you too."
Click here to listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking with Andrew Sercombe: