SAINT HILL, EAST GRINSTEAD, UNITED KINGDOM
IDEAL SAINT HILL INAUGURATION CROWNS EXTRAORDINARY SCIENTOLOGY SEASON OF EXPANSION
OCTOBER 18, 2015
Saint Hill in East Grinstead, UK carries monumental significance in Scientology. It’s where Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard lived, researched and accomplished revolutionary discoveries on the spirit and life, and ensured the religion’s dynamic future. And with its dedication as Ideal, Mr. Hubbard’s vision is fully realized in the majesty that is the Ideal Saint Hill.
The dynamic restoration and expansion of the legendary Saint Hill estate in East Grinstead, United Kingdom, was unveiled with its dedication Sunday, October 18, before an audience of some 2,000 celebrants. The grand opening ceremony was staged on a site that bears tremendous meaning for Scientologists the world over. It was on this extraordinary property that Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s breakthrough discoveries in the 1960s opened the upper reaches of the Scientology Bridge to Total Freedom.
A pivotal moment in what has proved a season of unprecedented Scientology achievement, the Ideal Saint Hill ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the instant when the very essence of what the Scientology religion has become achieved perfect synchronicity with Mr. Hubbard’s revolutionary vision.
Ms. Erin Banks from the Church’s International Public Relations Office opened the ceremony, building the suspense while noting, “If Saint Hill is a place so many call home… and if Saint Hill is an Org so many call their Org… well, so it is that these grounds, too, hold an enduring personal meaning for Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center. Saint Hill served as his own training ground as an auditor, and indeed he is still remembered as the 12-year-old prodigy who became its youngest professional auditor. The rest, as they say, is history!”
Mr. Miscavige then took the stage, offering a warm and spirited welcome to those assembled for the dedication. “Today it’s not only a new Ideal Advanced Org and Saint Hill for the UK, but all Saint Hill in totality and reflecting exactly what LRH always wished for,” Mr. Miscavige said. “His dreams, his vision and his plans—all are now fully and resoundingly done.”
After delivering a vivid description of the fully restored and expanded Ideal Saint Hill facility, Mr. Miscavige continued, “Yes, this is our history. This is Saint Hill. And, this is what lives on today at this Saint Hill Base—the jewel of our Scientology crown.” Moments before cutting the ribbon on the stunning property, Mr. Miscavige boldly declared, “I hereby dedicate this new Ideal Saint Hill in the name of L. Ron Hubbard and the Bridge he built to Eternity!”
Saint Hill was Mr. Hubbard’s home during a period of thrilling discovery and unparalleled advances. It was here that he delivered the renowned Saint Hill Special Briefing Course; completed mapping the route to the State of Clear and the first of the higher states of spiritual awareness, the OT (Operating Thetan) levels; conceived the Grade Chart that guides the individual from their first steps in Scientology through each higher state of awareness and ability; and developed the administrative structure for all Scientology Churches going forward.
When Mr. Hubbard originally conceived of and personally designed Saint Hill castle, it was to accommodate the growing number of Scientologists flooding into East Grinstead to take part in the new technical breakthroughs he was realizing.
Saint Hill remains the standard by which all Scientology organizations are assessed. And every care was taken to see that its impeccable restoration aligned perfectly with Mr. Hubbard’s conceptualization and the administrative policies he laid down for an Ideal Scientology Organization.
Outfitted for maximum delivery, the facility features a new extension to the Castle’s structure that greatly expands the previous Scientology auditing capacity. In fact, the expansion doubles the site’s previous number of auditing rooms while also doubling the number of course rooms. The facility further features a dedicated wing for the training and guidance of Solo Auditing (parishioners auditing themselves through the State of Clear and advanced levels).
A new Saint Hill Refectory, erected next to the Castle, affords an unobstructed view of the beautiful Sussex countryside. A perfect setting to enjoy a meal or a break between Scientology services, it also serves as a gathering place for those attending Saint Hill’s many scheduled events.
Spanning the entire rolling downs of Saint Hill, the complete estate was restored top-to-bottom as Ideal. That includes all roads, car parks and footpaths as well as its abundant greenery and garden—brightened by some 1,000 new plants and trees. Every aspect of Saint Hill has been thoroughly and spectacularly restored.
Just steps from the Castle is Saint Hill Manor, the internationally renowned home of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Manor welcomes thousands of visitors for tours and events for general public and dignitaries alike including diplomats, members of parliament, artists and human rights leaders, town councilors, mayors and civil servants from across the UK. Meticulously restored and renovated in honor of Mr. Hubbard’s Centennial (1911-2011), the Manor is among the most historically significant estates in Sussex.
The iconic manor and castle in the lush Sussex countryside of Saint Hill are an international beacon for Scientologists everywhere. As one Scientologist noted, “You feel like you’re stepping into Scientology history… It has the aura of LRH.”
The dedication of the Ideal Saint Hill caps an unprecedented succession of grand openings in recent months, reflecting the tremendous expansion of the religion.
July 18 saw the grand opening of the Ideal Continental Liaison Office (CLO UK), located literally across the road from Saint Hill in the historic Fonthill Lodge—comprising five buildings on 43 pastoral acres.
On September 5, the model Continental Narconon United Kingdom drug rehabilitation and training facility was dedicated on a country estate just 20 miles from Saint Hill on the outskirts of Maynards Green, East Sussex. Made possible by generous contributions from members of the International Association of Scientologists, it now serves as a model drug rehab center and training facility for staff of Narconon drug rehabilitation services across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
On the horizon are new Ideal Churches opening throughout England in Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth and Sunderland, with new Ideal Churches also planned for Brighton and Edinburgh. These will join the Ideal Church of London, opened in 2006 on Queen Victoria Street in the heart of the city, along with London’s Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Centre on Tottenham Court Road and Fitzroy House, the historic home of L. Ron Hubbard in London during the 1950s. The London Church was the site of the first Scientology wedding in England following the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous decision acknowledging Scientology as a religion. All together these landmark Churches complete Scientology’s profoundly increased UK presence.
Saint Hill also remains the nexus for the Church’s UK humanitarian campaigns. They include:
- The Truth About Drugs: UK volunteers of the drug education and prevention initiative have distributed nearly 5 million copies of The Truth About Drugs information booklets, including 1.5 million handed out at the London Olympics, Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Edinburgh Festival. By carrying out more than 400 drug prevention events annually, volunteers have introduced millions of individuals to the campaign. Scientologists in the UK organized a seven-week Drug-Free London Football Tournament this summer, with athletes promoting drug-free living during every game. And the Jive Aces, UK’s No. 1 Swing Band, promote drug-free living at all concerts and festivals where they perform.
- United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights: In support of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UK Scientologists carry out human rights education projects at home and overseas in countries such as India, Pakistan and Nepal. They have seen to the training of over 250,000 youth on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights using these educational materials.
- The Way to Happiness: In the past five years, Scientologists have distributed over one million copies of the common-sense moral code, The Way to Happiness, including at inner city flashpoints. Volunteers handed out more than 50,000 copies of the booklet to help bring calm to London and other cities throughout the UK during the August 2011 riots.
- Volunteer Ministers: Volunteer Ministers (VMs) from the UK provide day-to-day aid to people in need in their communities. British VMs have responded to disasters at home and overseas, including floods in UK and Pakistan, the 2007 Cumbria train derailment, the 2005 London bombing, the South Asian tsunami and the New York City terrorist attacks.
The Church of Scientology has enjoyed greater expansion during the past decade than in the previous 50 years combined. The first nine months of 2015 bears this out, marked by historic achievements for the religion.
These include the grand opening of an Ideal Church of Scientology in Tokyo on August 8; a Scientology Information Center and six humanitarian and social betterment centers at the Church’s spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, on July 11; a majestic Ideal Church of Scientology in Bogotá, Colombia, on July 5; and the opening in April of an Ideal Church of Scientology at the tri-country corner of Switzerland, Germany and France: in Basel, Switzerland.
More openings are planned in Australia, Africa, Europe and North America in the year ahead.