Nine dilapidated churches across the country are to be repaired after receiving £1.3m in funding from the National Lottery and Historic Scotland.

The money will go towards urgent repairs to make them structurally stable and wind and water-tight.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has earmarked £901,000 and Historic Scotland awarded £399,500 for the churches in Falkirk, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Yester, Leith, Ayr, Stranraer, Ardrossan and Lossiemouth.

Falkirk Old and St Modan's Parish Church is to receive £62,000. Primarily built in 1811, it was designed by James Gillespie Graham and includes the graves of Sir John de Graeme and Sir John Stewart of Bonhill, who fell fighting for William Wallace at the first Battle of Falkirk in 1298.

The funding will help with the repair of the roof and high level masonry.

The church's minister, the Rev Robert Allan, said: "We are delighted; this money is essential to begin work to the roof this summer, as we are not sure if it could stand another winter."

St John's Church in Dunoon is set to receive £123,000. Built in 1876 as the Free Church by Robert Bryden, St John's was patronised by many wealthy late-18th century Glasgow industrialists who had settled there after the advent of steamship commuting to Glasgow.

St Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Helensburgh is due to receive more than £100,000, and dates back to 1868. It is the only A-listed church in Helensburgh.

Yester Parish Church in East Lothian is also set to receive grants totalling more than £100,000 and it dates back to 1710. Its most famous association is with John Witherspoon, son of a Yester minister, the Rev James Witherspoon - John followed his father into the ministry and in 1768 was invited to become president of the College of New Jersey, later Princeton University. He was a signatory to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Linda Fabiani, the Culture Minister, said: "Places of worship have been an essential part of Scottish life both in terms of their community identity and archaeological and historical importance."

Colin McLean, manager of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: " The Heritage Lottery Fund is pleased to be able to help secure the future of these fine buildings so that the local community and Scotland's heritage may continue to benefit from their existence."

St Thomas Junction Road Parish Church in Leith will receive £50,000, St Andrew's Parish Church in Ayr is to receive more than £125,000.

The Town Kirk of Stranraer is to receive £120,000, the EU Congregational Church in Ardrossan is to get £25,000 and St Gerardine's High Church, in Lossiemouth, £60,900.

All of these grants are called a "Stage One Pass", which means that money has been earmarked by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project in question. A Stage One Pass does not guarantee funding, but indicates positive support, and money for the scheme is set aside. An applicant can then progress to Stage Two and submit a further, fully developed application to secure the full grant.