Three appellants - Mrs Ruth Miller, Mr Hebbie McLeod and Mr Alisdair Dobie - went to the capital to speak before the Moderator and the Commission of Assembly.

They put the case for categorisation of Dunnichen Kirk from C - which means immediate closure to B - to be retained for a prescribed time.

A number of representatives from the congregation attended.

The Commission sat for three hours and the appellants were subject to extensive questioning, before a vote was taken.

The vote was 41 for the change from C to B with 28 against.

The period of grace is for three years, or the refurbishment of Letham Church, whichever is first.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh confirmed a case was brought to the Commission of Assembly last Thursday, which was the Kirk Session of Dunnichen versus Angus Presbytery.

He said: "The Kirk Session was upset at the presbytery's decision to categorise their building for immediate disposal, and were appealing against this.

"Dunnichen is a linked charge with Letham and Kirkden. The Letham building is approximately a mile away from Dunnichen.

"The Kirk Session accepted that the church would have to close in the middle-term, but wanted the building to be kept open until a planned refurbishment at Letham was complete.

"The Council of Assembly accepted this motion, and granted their appeal, on the condition that the church should close on the earlier of the following two possibilities: the refurbishment at Letham is completed; three years from Thursday August 21, 2008."

The spokesman stated there was a counter motion supporting the Presbytery, saying the Commission of Assembly should stick with the original decision, but this was defeated by 41 to 28.