After over 50 years of broadcasting Anglican services, Songs of Praise is to begin featuring congregations from a variety of Christian faiths.

A declining Church of England audience has prompted the BBC to consider ways by which to draft in more viewers.

"For a good decade now, the audience numbers have been in decline. That's not because it's not very well made. The reality is that it's a society issue," the BBC's head of religion, Aaqil Ahmed, said.

"We don't have the numbers of people in their mid-fifties who would historically have had the same kind of interest and knowledge and desire that we need to replenish the audience. So the option is, let that continue and see audiences dwindle beyond a level that would make it quite difficult, or do something about it."

Ahmed added that "significant numbers of people coming in from Africa and Eastern Europe" has given rise to an increase in Catholicism in the UK.

"It is even more important that it [Songs of Praise] reflects Christianity across the whole of the United Kingdom as we see it today," he explained.

"From the emerging black majority, Pentecostal and eastern European Catholic Churches to, of course, Anglican worship, the updated version of Songs of Praise will be going out to ensure that more views see themselves well represented."

Presenting the first revamped show next week will be West End star Connie Fisher, who won the BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? in 2006.

A Catholic cathedral, Salvation Army training college and Pentecostal church will all be featured.

"It is a very positive thing," a BBC spokesperson said of the upcoming changes. "Songs of Praise will continue to focus on the religious theme in words and music."

Gogglebox star Rev Kate Bottley said in an article for the Radio Times in September that the show should be "spicy and flavoursome" rather than like "a piece of soggy quiche".

"It's great for those who can't get out to church," Bottley said, but "It doesn't show the doubt, the questions and the massive wobbles that being a Christian brings, after all, it's not all harvest festivals and cheery smiles."

"Primetime religious programmes should be the most talked-about shows of the week," she added.