As Scientologists around the world prepare for Friday’s annual gathering at Saint Hill, details have started to emerge of the inter-Org transfer options being offered by the Church for European parishioners who wish to attend the event in person.
Next week, thousands of Scientologists are expected to arrive in the rural Sussex countryside to hear reclusive leader David Miscavige speak in what usually amounts to a three-hour speech, packed with flashy graphics, pyrotechnics and lots of clapping. The event marks the 41st anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) and is widely regarded as one of the most important dates in their annual events calendar.
Due to the last minute nature of the event’s planning, with the date only being announced two weeks ago, parishioners in Europe often struggle to find reasonably priced flights – something we reported was causing widespread discontent within the Church. In order to combat this Scientology Orgs on the continent have started to team up to offer their followers a cheap bus ride to the event.
According to a flyer sent in to us by an anonymous tipster, Orgs in Italy have teamed up to offer a coach that will take parishioners straight to their UK headquarters for just €20. The gruelling 24 hour-each way ride will set off from Rome at 8am on Thursday and will stop in Florence at 1pm and Milan at 4pm before arriving at Saint Hill some time on Friday morning.
With most coaches holding between 30 and 50 passengers, offering a service which stops at multiple Orgs suggests Scientology has seen a dramatic decrease in its following in recent years, with each Org unable to fill an entire bus on its own.
The bus will then leave Saint Hill on Saturday evening after a “global salvage seminar”, with passengers arriving back at their home Orgs some time on Sunday. The whole trip costs just €20, although it does not include overnight accommodation.
Would you sit on a coach for 24 hours each way in order to hear Miscavige speak on stage at this year’s IAS event?
24 hours on a bus with 50 unwashed Scientologists, and one bathroom with a toilet and small sink. There's going to be some odor on that coach by the time they get there. Then after 24 hours on a bus they'll likely fall asleep during Miscavige's 3 hour spiel. Resta a casa il babbeo.
Sounds like torture.
The same day, there are Halloween events on LRH Way in L.A., and Flag plus the IAS event video will hit my local org a week or so later. So really, why bother traveling to St. Hill? But thanks for the generous offer, anyway.
🤣 but Tom Cummins said it was going to be INCREDIBLE
Nice try but he ain’t an OL. If Marisol, Erika, or Ana had said it, that’d be different. So yeah… I’m sticking with my local org. BUT I sure look forward to your live coverage outside the event – and keep my fingers crossed that there will some insider recording some things to be leaked.
I've driven the A1 Autostrade from Rome to Florence, and I think those arrival times are being somewhat optimistic. Especially since they are traveling on a weekday, when the big trucks, which are banned on Sundays, are out and about.
I wonder whether the €20 includes the ferry crossing, or whether they’ll be charging extra for that
Good question. Any bets on whether they take up a collection to pay the tolls on the Autostrade?