“You may have 200 friends on Facebook, but how many of them provide a meaningful connection? How often have you had your head down over your smartphone when you might have lifted it to see and connect with a warm, living, breathing human being?"

These are the topical words of Reverend Chris Vermeulen, of Fairlie and St Columba's in Largs, who is leading a new group attempting to tackle community concerns - with the first topic being the issue of loneliness.

They will be having their first event at Fairlie Bowling Club on Monday 8 February, starting at 7pm.

The room will be laid out in a café style with refreshment served and the conversation will take place in an informal way.

The forum is seeking an alternative to traditional perceptions of church by meeting with others to build a healthy community.

They have invited a local GP Dr Colin Jamieson, Health Visitor Janice Busby, and a Citizens Advice volunteer Karla Tully to share their experience and contact with “loneliness” in their everyday experience

Loneliness touches everyone young and old and all of us can play a part in creating a society/community that combats the worst ravages of loneliness. Stephen Fry, the English actor who has been open about his struggle with mental illness wrote on his blog “I feel relieved to be in fine company. I am luckier than many of you because I am lonely in a crowd of people who are mostly very nice to me and appear to be pleased to meet me."

Rev Chris Vermeulen said: "Churches have historically been good at creating community and building relationships, but for whatever reason they have been shifting to the margins in recent years.

"It could be because of beliefs that no longer touch the reality of modern life, outmoded language and traditions, etc. Yes we still believe that the life and teaching of Jesus remain central to the Christian life, the church needs to find new ways of connecting and creating meaningful community and relationships."

The first meeting is a “pilot” to allow others to have the opportunity to shape future events in Largs and Fairlie.

They will be having our first event at Fairlie Bowling Club on Monday, 8 February starting at 7pm. The room will be laid out in a café style with refreshment served and the conversation will take place in an informal way.