BBC Correspondent Emma Simpson: The spirit zone has been welcomed by church leaders

The news coincides with reported confirmation that the Queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will open the Dome at a star-studded party on New Year's Eve 1999.

The Church of England's representative on millennium matters, the Bishop of Maidstone, the Right Reverend Gavin Hunter Reid, said: "I am a particularly excited that the first thing you will meet when you come into the zone is an exposition of Jesus Christ, moving into a significance of Christ in the history of our country."

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The decision comes after the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, blasted the lack of a strong Christian element in the £758m Dome at Greenwich, south London.

"The great humility of the manger has now become the hubris of a dome - a dome to celebrate the apotheosis of man rather than the glory of God," he said.

The Bishop of Maidstone: "I think it's very good"

He was joined by Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain Cardinal Basil Hume who said it was "terribly wrong" to neglect the life of Christ in celebrating the millennium.

The Dome's organisers, the New Millennium Experience Company, have released an artist's impression of the Spirit Zone and details of the interior of the exhibition exclusively to the BBC.

The Spirit Zone as it looks now

Key features of the zone, which is to consist of six large canopies covering a formation of arches, will include a display detailing 2000 years of Christian history in the UK, in addition to the life of Christ.

The Life Points section looks at human existence from birth to death and investigates how events are marked and celebrated by various faiths.

There will also be a contemplation area for quiet reflection and a "How shall I live?" section where visitors can write down their thoughts on the millennium.

The Dome will cost £758m to build

Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury Canon Colin Fletcher, who is also the chairman of the Lambeth Consultative Group, welcomed the addition of Christ's story and teachings, saying: "Different faith communities support the fact that Christianity will be given pride of place in the Spirit Zone."

NMEC Chief Executive Jennie Page said the Spirit Zone was being designed to cater for "more than 12 million people of all ages, all faiths - and no faith".