The Bale & Stiffkey Benefice ALL SAINTS, BALE
Home	Bale & Stiffkey Benefice	Binham Priory	Glaven Valley

Bale has a population of 120, and stands at the last point from which one can glimpse the sea. It consists of various clusters of houses centred on the Church of All Saints. The main occupation locally is classic beet and barley farming. However, the local population actively engaged in agriculture has declined substantially, and more residents now are commuters or retired people. There are about 60 homes, of which about a dozen are second homes. Bale has no shop, but a garage with a shop is half a mile away. The village hall, built to be "fit for heroes" after the First World War has a comfortable feel, belied by its outward appearance: it is a village rather than a church institution. Regular fish and chip evenings take place there as well as village events, meetings and a harvest supper.

The church electoral role is 20, and the average congregation is 18. Before the current interregnum we celebratedcommunion each Sunday using Order 1, in traditional language. We have been fortunate in the regular services of a retired priest, and also a team of competent organists. There is an excellent tradition of extra musical accompaniment for Feast Days. The PCC meets regularly and is determined to pay our parish share in full, and, in an increasingly material age, to sustain the Christian Faith and values through regular worship and example. Our annual fete no longer keeps pace with our parish share. However it is a happy event, helped in no small measure by the efforts of many village residents, whether churchgoers or not.

The church dates from the 1300s. There is a peal of five bells, which need to be rehung in a new frame. A project to achieve this has been started. The organ has been recently and successfully restored. Recent quinquennial reports have not raised any major alarms. Rotas of helpers arrange flowers and clean the church, which is left unlocked from dawn until dusk.