The Church of England in Shropshire has welcomed the Council's decision to stop the process of consultation over school closures and to reconsider.

It was a surprise move by the Shropshire County Council Cabinet, which had announced the closure of 20 schools and the amalgamation of four others into two new schools.

"This is a good move by Shropshire as it gives all those involved more time to consider what is best for the children in the most rural areas of the county," said Dr Ian Terry, Director of Education for the Diocese of Hereford, which covers the South of the County.

"While we have always expected that some schools must close, a longer time for consideration of which ones, based on criteria we all agree upon, will be much more positive."

Of the schools due to amalgamate, two of them, Ashford Carbonel and Caynham welcomed the future plans. The other two, Lydbury North and Clun opposed the merger, but will now be working together to prevent the communities from becoming divided.

The Director of Education for the Diocese of Lichfield, Colin Hopkins, said he wanted to work with the education authority to draw up a new strategic plan for education in the County.

He added: "A very large number of Church of England schools throughout the country are in rural locations. The government needs to ensure that children in these schools are not disadvantaged in terms of the funding these schools receive."

Bishop Michael Hooper and Bishop Alan Smith were present at a previous Church of England press conference on the day the closures were announced. They both said they were pleased with the respite.

"The Church of England is committed to supporting the best education for all our children - both urban and rural - and we want to work together with the County Council and all our partners to work out the best way of addressing falling roles, " said Bishop Smith.

"However, with the forthcoming announcement about the closure of post offices, many of which will be in the very same villages where the school was threatened, we have to think very hard about the future of our rural communities."

The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, wrote to all church school heads in south Shropshire yesterday assuring them of the support of the diocese.

"We are deeply aware of the vital and marvellous contribution that schools make to communities," said Bishop Priddis.

"We acknowledge that Government nationally seeks to draw tight lines around budgets, but that seems to me to be a mistake and does not reflect the joined up, holistic approach that is needed," he wrote.

"I am keen that we continue to affirm the marvellous contribution made by small schools as well as large ones."