It made the declaration in a report called 'Thinking Afresh about Welfare: the Enemy Isolation', which seeks to add the Church of England's thoughts and recommendations to current discussions and policies about Britain's welfare state.
The report, which was written by Revd Canon Dr Malcolm Brown, the Director of the Mission and Public Affairs Division of Archbishops' Council, names isolation as a sixth 'Giant Evil' plaguing Britain; the term refers to the famous report by William Beveridge in 1942 which named Want, Disease, Squalor, Ignorance and Idleness as the 'Five Giant Evils' that a potential British welfare state needed to tackle.
'Thinking Afresh' argues that isolation is an "enemy of Britain" which damages individuals and adds extra pressure onto the welfare state.
For example a person may visit a doctor several times solely because they are only person they are able to have a meaningful conversation with, or an elderly person may be forced to have state care because she has no family to look after her.
It cites a lack of friendships, loneliness in old age through a lack of family or neighbours, an inability for single mothers to find childcare, family breakdown, low self-esteem among the unemployed, rising homelessness and a lack of support for the disabled as examples of isolation.
The report also says the Church is one of the best institutions in tackling isolation in British society. For example foodbanks and Street Pastors not only address practical needs, but also provide a listening ear, mentorship and friendship.
It also cites the Church's inclusion of the elderly, disabled and unemployed.
The report also:
Invites policymakers to consider extending benefits to migrants coming to Britain
Condemns rhetoric which portrays benefit claimants as "other"
Argues that cutting welfare spending is not the only way national debt can be lowered
Promotes welfare policies which promote family stability
Condemns moving poorer people potentially hundreds of miles away because of money
Concluding, 'Thinking Afresh' says: "One guiding principle for our collective responses should be the restoration of social bonds, the encouragement of neighbourliness and the attack on trends that exacerbate isolation.
"If we shape our responses along those lines, we may be able to engage with the government more effectively on welfare issues."
