After weeks of speculation, the Church of Scientology have finally announced the date of this year’s gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) at their UK headquarters in Sussex.
The event is set to take place on Friday October 31st at Saint Hill Manor, the former home of L. Ron Hubbard near East Grinstead. Thousands of Scientologists travel from across the world to hear current leader David Miscavige speak at the event, with celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Jenna Elfman frequently spotted in the audience.
Despite lacking the required planning permission, Scientology have erected three large marquees on their property in order to host the event, including a 45,000 square foot structure capable of holding an audience of around 3,000 people.
Festivities will kick off with a special dinner for the controversial Church’s biggest UK donors the night before the event itself. Saturday 1st November will see a “global salvage seminar” followed by a fancy black tie dinner for patrons of the IAS and will close with a charity concert on Sunday 2nd November. Scientology’s website describes the occasion as “more than an event. It’s a transcendent and revitalizing celebration where inspiration soars and history is forged.”
The date for this year’s event has been kept under wraps for several weeks, with speculation brewing among parishioners as to why the announcement has come so late.
Following an unsuccessful attempt by the Church to ban protesting outside their headquarters, a demonstration has been announced spanning the whole weekend with the message ‘We Come Back’.
More to follow.
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The marquee shimmered in the pale morning light, canvas stretched tight, the sound system giving off a low expectant hum. Then they arrived — all at once — a convoy of council enforcement officers, police, fire brigade, and ambulance. Each stepped from their vehicles with practiced purpose, badges glinting, clipboards ready, the air suddenly thick with authority.
A woman in a crisp blue uniform called out for Janet Laveau. The crowd fell silent as she appeared, flanked by confused staff clutching radios. One by one, the officer handed her a stack of documents, each page stamped and final. The phrase “immediate stop-notice” carried easily across the morning air. Faces turned, eyes widened; disbelief hung like mist.
Then the officials fanned out, forming a quiet wall between the crowd and the marquee.
And at that moment I awoke — just a dream, but what a beautiful dream it was!