By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Tom Cruise is expected to be met by protests for an annual Scientology gathering in Sussex this weekend after he arrived by helicopter.
The Top Gun star, 64, is understood to have arrived early into the UK ahead of the meet - after being photographed dramatically helicoptering in to the gathering last year.
The Scientology follower and fellow attendees will face protests from former members of the organisation, which typically attracts up to 7,000 people, when it gets underway.
The three-day event at Saint Hill Manor, the church's British Base in East Grinstead in Sussex that was once home to its founder L. Ron Hubbard, attracts Scientologists from across the globe.
Protesters, including former members, are expected to gather nearby again this year amid allegations of mistreatment and unpaid labour against the movement – described as a cult by its critics – which bosses deny.
A small group marched from the town centre towards the entrance of the manor on Thursday, holding a banner reading 'It's time to end abuse in Scientology' and signs which included the motto: 'Your doubts are valid.'
Last year the church played loud bagpipe music on a large speaker to try and drown out activists.
The International Association of Scientologists gathering gets underway on Friday evening and lasts throughout the weekend, bringing together members from Scientology churches around the world including the US, South Africa and Denmark.
Cruise is among the most highly-anticipated attendees, having first become involved with Scientology in the 1990s. The movement is also followed by John Travolta.
Protesters, including former members, are expected to gather nearby again this year amid allegations of mistreatment and unpaid labour against the movement - described as a cult by its critics - which bosses deny - they held a march through the town on Thursday
Alex Barnes-Ross, who has told of joining the Scientologists aged 15 in 2011, has organised protests against the movement in East Grinstead today
The annual fundraiser, which was attended by 7,000 Scientologists from across the world last year, is taking place at Saint Hill Manor (pictured), Scientology's UK headquarters in East Grinstead
Tom Cruise is pictured in 2025 after arriving by helicopter to the annual event in East Grinstead
The Top Gun star has been a follower of Scientology since the 1990s
Protest organiser Alex Barnes-Ross is a former member and has previously accused Scientology of making followers work 18-hour days and seven-day weeks with little or no pay.
He joined the church at 15 in 2011, at what he describes as a 'vulnerable' time in his life. He began speaking out against it in 2023.
He also said members can be put on menial 'hard labour' assignments and rationed to eat just small amounts of rice and beans if they commit an infraction or are underperforming.
The movement has previously rejected such allegations.
Saint Hill Manor, in East Grinstead, is a country house built in 1792 and the former home of Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Hubbard, an American science fiction writer, moved into the estate in 1959 and it served as the Church of Scientology's worldwide headquarters until 1967.
Cruise is even said to have spent time on a luxury wing of the estate as his 'lockdown sanctuary' during the Covid pandemic.
Earlier this week, Mid Sussex District Council gave the go-ahead for the organisation to construct a car park for 683 cars and a large events area, featuring huge marquees, for this weekend.
It has allowed the change of use of Juhring and Hobbs Fields to operate as the reinforced car park for up to 50 days each year, with use of the full 683 spaces for just seven days a year.
Three temporary event marquees can remain standing for up to 84 days each year.