A Church of Scotland watchdog is calling on Gaelic TV officials to screen more religious shows.

The Council of Assembly, which oversees the other church councils and committees, is concerned at the lack of dedicated religious programmes on BBC Alba and the channel’s limited availability on Freeview.

The council’s report to the Assembly mentions funding talks with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, a Scottish government quango with special responsibility for Gaelic, which could lead to a joint broadcasting proposal with the University of the Highlands and Islands.

The report reveals that the council is taking an ecumenical approach as it tries to develop the use of Gaelic in church circles. It says there have already been discussions with other denominations about the best way forward.

There has been steady progress within the Kirk as last year’s Church of Scotland Yearbook featured Gaelic for the first time. And in another first the General Assembly Gaelic service was broadcast online.

This year, the Council of Assembly welcomes the availability of an online Gaelic dictionary, which it says will be a powerful tool for anyone wishing to extend their abilities in the use of the language. It also commends plans for the first online Gaelic Thesaurus.