The British headquarters of the Church of Scientology is facing a potential ban on selling alcohol and hosting events after local residents complained about disruptive noise, including loud bagpipe music, during a major fundraiser attended by Hollywood star Tom Cruise.
Protesters Drowned Out by Bagpipes at Star-Studded Event
In November, more than 7,000 Scientologists from around the world descended on Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, West Sussex, for the church's biggest annual fundraiser. The three-day gathering drew significant local ire, not only for its scale but for the measures taken to counter demonstrators.
Protesters, who allege malpractice within the church, gathered outside the Grade-II listed country house chanting and holding placards. In response, the church deployed a large speaker to blast traditional Scottish bagpipe music on a loop throughout the day in an attempt to drown out the critical voices.
The event's most high-profile attendee was actor Tom Cruise, 63. Exclusive pictures obtained by the Daily Mail show the Top Gun star, dressed in a navy suit, wearing an aviation headset as he arrived by helicopter, deftly avoiding the crowds of angry locals on the ground.
Local Residents Describe 'Considerable Disruption'
The fallout from the event has led to a formal complaint to Mid Sussex District Council, triggering a review of the premises licence which permits the sale of alcohol and the hosting of regulated events. The application for review claims the fundraiser caused 'considerable disruption' through traffic congestion and excessive noise.
One anonymous East Grinstead resident detailed the impact, stating that preparations caused weeks of disturbance with lorries delivering pallets to create a temporary car park. "Then they made all the neighbours listen to bagpipe music on a loop all day," he said. The resident also complained about noisy generators powering floodlights that remained on all night, illuminating an empty field.
Another local described the scene as "chaos," citing an endless stream of people, noise, and a road closure caused by a minibus accident. "Then you've got Tom flying over in his chopper and it causes a right old racket," they added.
Licence Review and Church's Defence
The council's review, open to public consultation until 8 January next year, could result in the revocation or amendment of the licence. It asks the authority to consider limiting the scale of future events and proposes measures to safeguard vulnerable people.
This is not the first clash between the church and the community. In July 2024, the Church of Scientology applied for a Public Space Protection Order to restrict protests, claiming they caused "harassment, disturbance and alarm." The council's cabinet was due to refuse the application, but the church withdrew it before a decision was made.
Defending the November event, a spokesman for the Church of Scientology in the UK said it was a "resounding success" that generated "significant cultural and economic benefits for the area" and was "warmly welcomed by residents." They described it as featuring traditional bagpipe performances and a gala charity concert supporting local causes.
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard moved into Saint Hill Manor in 1959, and it served as the church's worldwide headquarters until 1967. Tom Cruise, a member since the 1990s, has visited the estate numerous times and is even reported to have used a luxury wing there as a lockdown sanctuary during the Covid-19 pandemic.
