The plan for Rwanda is central to the Government’s commitment to stopping small boats carrying migrants crossing the English Channel, but has been on hold since June last year, when a single Strasbourg judge at the European Court of Human Rights issued an interim injunction, known as a Rule 39, suspending the first flight.

It has been strongly criticized by Archbishop Welby and other bishops.

A former senior adviser to the 26 bishops who sit in the House of Lords told House magazine that Mrs Braverman’s apparent refusal to meet the Church’s most senior figure had caused consternation within Lambeth Palace. “There was an internal commotion. “It was a big slap in the face,” said the source, who described the bishops’ relationship with Conservative Home Office ministers as “really toxic” and “irreparable.”

The former adviser to the bishops complained to the magazine that “ministers seem to prefer to conduct their dialogue through the media rather than in meetings,” adding that attendees who had gone to the Interior Ministry on behalf of The bishops had felt as if they were “lepers” to receive information.

Lambeth House has noted that it is common for Archbishop Welby to meet senior ministers; He recently held a dialogue with Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, according to House magazine, and launched an initiative on Syrian refugees with Amber Rudd when she was home. secretary. Archbishop Welby and Theresa May, when she was prime minister, joined forces to back a modern slavery project led by the Church of England.

Senior Conservative MPs have criticized the politicization of senior bishops. Chris Loder, a member of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs, said bishops risked becoming “mitre-wearing politicians” for their interventions in the migration debate, adding that it was “a very damaging thing for the Church.” from England”.