The quiet West Sussex town of East Grinstead found itself at the centre of Hollywood glamour last week as Tom Cruise and approximately 7,000 Scientologists descended upon Saint Hill Manor for the Church of Scientology's annual Patrons Ball.
A Town Accustomed to Celebrity Sightings
For local resident Diane Juchau, who has lived in East Grinstead for nearly three decades, seeing the Mission: Impossible star isn't entirely unexpected. "I saw him a couple of years ago walking past Iceland," she recalled. This time, however, Cruise's appearance had a clear purpose - attending one of Scientology's most significant fundraising events at the organisation's UK headquarters.
The scale of the gathering in a town with just 26,000 residents made it impossible to ignore. Paul Oliver, 53, and his wife Vanessa, 54, witnessed the preparations firsthand while walking their dogs. "It seemed like quite a do," Paul remarked. "We went for a walk when they were setting up. We could hear them testing out the band. They spent a few quid - their car park was massive."
Saint Hill Manor's Controversial History
The event took place at Saint Hill Manor, purchased by L Ron Hubbard, Scientology's founder, in 1959. The mansion serves as the church's British headquarters and has been at the centre of local controversy for decades.
The Church of Scientology has faced numerous allegations since its establishment in 1954, including claims that it separates families and indoctrinates followers. These concerns prompted the British government to ban Hubbard from entering the UK in 1968. Kenneth Robinson, then health minister, described Scientology as "a potential menace to the personality and wellbeing of those so deluded as to become its followers."
More recently, Narconon UK, a Scientology-linked addiction charity, faced reprimands from the Charity Commission after allegations emerged that it subjected vulnerable people to psychological drills leaving them "traumatised" and in "trance-like states."
Local Reactions and Ongoing Tensions
East Grinstead's relationship with the organisation remains complicated. Juchau expressed concerns about Scientology's presence, noting that followers have been "putting their pamphlets in charity shops" since she moved to the town in 1998. She also claimed to have recently encountered members preaching on buses to nearby Haywards Heath, though the church denied this practice occurs.
The tensions have manifested visibly over time. Critics regularly protest outside Saint Hill Manor, and this year, a sign opposite East Grinstead railway station listing "Saint Hill Manor. Home of L Ron Hubbard" among local historic sights was removed by Govia Thameslink Railway, which cited safety concerns.
Despite the controversies, celebrity connections to the town persist. Cruise previously owned an 11,331 square foot mansion near Saint Hill Manor from 2006 before selling to Peter Andre a decade later. In 2011, John Travolta made headlines when his team attempted to book a table at a local KFC, only to be informed he would need to queue like any other customer.
The Guardian's attempt to visit Saint Hill Manor on Thursday afternoon was met with the information that visits are by appointment only, maintaining the organisation's characteristically private nature despite its very public presence in this West Sussex community.
