The arrival of Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise by helicopter in a quiet West Sussex market town last October was meant to be a glamorous spectacle. Instead, it became a flashpoint for local anger, with residents protesting against the disruption caused by the Church of Scientology's annual fundraiser.
Low-Flying Entry Ignites Local Fury
Instead of the usual fanfare, the 63-year-old Mission: Impossible actor was met with chanting protesters holding placards when he landed for the Church of Scientology's Patrons Ball at its Saint Hill Manor headquarters. Locals were outraged by the low-flying helicopter and the significant disruption brought by the three-day event, which the church says attracted 7,000 people to the small town of East Grinstead.
One local complaint, submitted to Mid Sussex District Council, claims the glitzy fundraising bash causes 'considerable disruption' through congestion and excessive noise. This has triggered a formal review that could see the church lose its alcohol and events permits. The application urges the council to limit the scale of future events and implement measures to protect vulnerable people.
A Fractious Decades-Long Relationship
The town's strained relationship with Scientology dates back to 1959, when the organisation's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, purchased the Grade II-listed Saint Hill Manor. While the church lauds the recent Patrons Ball as a 'resounding success' and notes that local councillors were invited, many residents feel increasingly besieged.
Former Scientologist Alexander Barnes-Ross, who led protests dressed in a medieval knight's costume, told the Daily Mail locals are 'extremely frustrated and angered'. 'The town gets absolutely nothing in return,' he said of Cruise's visit, suggesting the actor 'flies in, attends this event, probably donates a large sum of money, and then flies out again.'
An anonymous resident described weeks of preparatory work, including lorries delivering pallets to create a car park, followed by incessant bagpipe music played to drown out protesters and all-night generator noise. 'I'm tolerant,' the resident stated. 'I don't have religion but don't object to others having it. Scientology say they've cleaned up their act... I don't really believe they have changed their spots.'
Political Links Raise Eyebrows
Further fuelling local discontent are the perceived close ties between the church and community figures. Former mayors Julie Mockford and Frazer Visser have been photographed with Tom Cruise, and a 2024 Daily Mail investigation found considerable involvement by Scientologists in local affairs.
This has included council representatives attending church events, leader David Miscavige touring council offices, and the organisation helping to run the town's Christmas lights switch-on. For protesters like Barnes-Ross, this infiltration makes people feel 'helpless'.
The Church of Scientology states it has raised over £2 million for local causes in the past decade and that more than 6,500 residents have attended its events. In a separate move, the church withdrew an application for a Public Space Protection Order in July 2024, which had sought to restrict protests outside its premises.
Cruise remains the organisation's most famous 'poster child', alongside other notable members like John Travolta and Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson. The late Lisa Marie Presley wrote in her memoir that the church 'became my tribe', though she left around 2014.
For the residents of East Grinstead, tired of their home being dubbed Britain's 'Twin Peaks', the annual invasion and ongoing presence of the controversial church continues to be a source of significant friction and protest.
