Christians have responded with concern to an announcement by the BBC this week that it is considering opening up up Thought for the Day to secularists and humanists.

Thought for the Day is a three-minute religious slot on BBC Radio 4 for faith leaders to share their views on topical issues.

The BBC has come under pressure in recent years from secularists and humanists to open up the slot to non-religious views, with a non-religious "Thought for the Afternoon" being broadcast for the first time in January.

The proposal was announced on Monday by Radio 4's controller Mark Damazer. He said: "There may well be quite a strong argument for including secularists and humanists."

He said the proposal was being considered by the BBC Trust with a view to reaching "some kind of conclusion" later in the year.

The General Director of the Evangelical Alliance Steve Clifford was among Christians saying Thought for the Day should remain religious.

"It strikes me that the secularists predominate in the other 2 hours and 55 minutes [of the Today Programme], so is it really asking too much for religion to just have a small chunk of dedicated time?” he said.

The General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Martyn Atkins, said that while faith-based communities did not "have a monopoly on 'thoughts', the BBC had a "challenge to represent a variety of views in society".

"“Faith-based communities have a distinctive voice, and large numbers of people listen to Thought For The Day for that very reason, so I would be saddened to lose those crucial few minutes of spiritual reflection," he said.

He continued, "It is important that this slot remains available as a pause to reflect on spiritual or ethical issues ... Methodists are not afraid to be challenged about what we believe, and we are not threatened by hearing secular voices on Thought for the Day.

"But we, along with other Christians, will hope to continue to be given opportunity to speak of the things that matter so deeply to us.”