The proportion of children baptised in the Church of Scotland has slumped in the past 40 years.

New figures reveal that one in six (17%) of babies were being baptised in 2001.

This compared to roughly half of all babies in 1961, according to the report published ahead of next month's Church of Scotland General Assembly.

Extended family

The Kirk's Panel on Doctrine said the decline was partly explained by a trend towards baptism later in life as parents increasingly preferred to allow their children to decide for themselves.

At its General Assembly next month, the Kirk will discuss whether to introduce a blessing for new babies where neither of the parents belong to the faith.

The panel also said current regulations about whose children could be baptised should be reviewed to make them less restrictive.

Current rules specify that at least one parent should be a member of the church.

But the panel said ways of bringing people into the church through their extended family ought to be considered.