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The grace of friendship: Why it matters more than ever

The grace of friendship: Why it matters more than ever
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Alistair Chalmers
Alistair Chalmers Pastor of Ferniehill Evangelical Church in Edinburgh.
19 April, 2026 2 min read

In a world that's more connected than ever, it's surprising how many people feel disconnected. You might have hundreds of followers, a phone full of contacts, and still wonder: do I really have any true friends?

The stats back it up. Millions of adults in the UK say they often feel lonely. One in eight people say they have no close friends. That's not just a modern inconvenience – it's a spiritual crisis, and it's one that the church can speak into with real hope, because friendship isn't just a nice-to-have. It's a gift of grace from God.

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