BBC News on brink of religious affairs appointment

The appointment of a woman to report on religious affairs reflects likely change in the Church of England, which could appoint its first female bishops later this year.

The ongoing Cof E General Synod will vote on the issue in July.

Wyatt will replace the BBC’s current religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott.

Pigott will for the moment continue to cover the Synod, but will later move to a more general reporting role within the BBC.

Wyatt will hold the same religious affairs correspondent title as Pigott, rather than that of religious affairs editor.

The BBC has stopped short of appointing a religious affairs editor – a title which would carry more clout – despite calls to do so, inlcluding from the Church of England in 2010.

It said at the time that there was a need for “a recognised expert to bring greater co-ordination and depth to the corporation’s religious output across all channels”.