Has the local council of a sleepy Sussex town fallen under the spell of ... trends now

A chance to rub shoulders with Hollywood stars and royals at film premieres would be beyond the dreams of most local council officials or pen-pushers. But for those representing the sleepy market town of East Grinstead in Sussex, attending glitzy celebrity events and meeting A-listers is seen as a perk of the job.

Take, for instance, the picture of yoga teacher and former East Grinstead mayor Julie Mockford 'just chillin' with her 'pal' Tom Cruise on a Mission: Impossible film set in 2018.

Or more recently, the snap of the current mayor of East Grinstead, Frazer Visser, with Cruise last year. 'I had the unforgettable experience of attending the premiere of Tom Cruise's newest Mission: Impossible film in Leicester Square, along with some previous mayors,' he said.

No one would want to rob civic dignitaries of celebrity moments, but such photo-opportunities are starting to raise eyebrows.

For Tom Cruise is of course heavily involved with Scientology, which has long been established in East Grinstead. And the cosy relationship between Scientologists and local politicians is causing mounting concern among critics and council insiders.

They claim that town, district and even county councillors are 'tapped up' by Scientologists the moment they are elected, while the mayor is dazzled and made to 'feel like he's Sadiq Khan'.

They allege that the Scientologists use flattery and inducements to increase their influence over the council, and there are fears that some councillors may be sympathetic towards the controversial religion.

East Grinstead Town Council last night denied there was an inappropriate relationship between councillors and any 'community group', and said all hospitality it receives from such groups is declared properly.

For its part, the Church of Scientology, which is considered an 'anti-constitutional sect' by the German government (although it has not been banned), said it has been 'deeply involved' in East Grinstead life for decades and seeks only to 'make things better for all'.

A spokesman added: 'To suggest that there is anything wrong with a religious organisation doing this, or working closely with elected officials and many other people of goodwill is not only ridiculous, it is frankly bigotry.'

Scientology maintains that it is a genuine religious movement.

Whatever the case, a Mail investigation has established that the Scientologists have certainly become involved in the affairs of local politicians in East Grinstead to a considerable degree.

Local council representatives have attended a number of Scientology events; the church's controversial leader David Miscavige has been given a guided tour of council offices; the local fire service has been using the Scientologists' headquarters for training and was offered £50,000 by the church; and the Scientologists were involved in running East Grinstead's Christmas lights switch-on ceremony as well as a celebration for the Coronation of King Charles.

Of course, the church is a large organisation and, as such, may be expected to take part in civic life of the town where it is based.

But in the eyes of some it is also deeply contentious.

Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices dreamt up by sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard, who founded the church in 1952.

Its accusers say it is a profit-hungry business rather than a religion, charging large sums to members for 'self-improvement' courses.

Its 'revelations' about existence include the claim that Earth was populated 75million years ago by billions of extra-terrestrials led by Xenu, a ruler of a 'Galactic Confederacy', who then annihilated every living soul on Earth – or 'Teegeeack', as the planet was then known – by dropping them into volcanoes before blowing them up with hydrogen bombs.

Their spirits are said to adhere to humans, and to be the source of many of our problems.

The church has faced accusations of exploitation and abuse from former members, as well as 'brainwashing', although has always denied all such allegations, arguing that it is unfairly misrepresented and maligned.

In September last year, the US actor Danny Masterson, a former Scientologist, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for rape. He was a member of the church when he committed the offences in 2003, and prosecutors alleged he used his prominence in the organisation – the two women he was found guilty of raping were also members – to avoid facing justice for decades.

Scientology officials have denied 'scandalous allegations that the church harassed the accusers', saying the claims have been 'debunked' and that portions of the Masterton trial testimony regarding the organisation were 'uniformly false'.

Meanwhile, in the US, David Miscavige is facing a lawsuit on behalf of three former members of the church accusing him of trafficking them into his organisation as children and forcing them to work for little to no pay. The church and Miscavige have repeatedly denied the allegations.

The church has had a base in East Grinstead ever since L Ron Hubbard bought Saint Hill Manor, surrounded by 60 acres, just outside the town in 1959. The attractive Georgian country house served as its worldwide head-quarters until 1967 (it is now in Florida) and still plays a significant role in its global operation.

Why East Grinstead? Despite talk of the area's ley lines – ancient alignments in the landscape believed to have spiritual significance – the most likely explanation is that the town is just an hour on the train from London and close to Gatwick airport.

And the house came up for sale at a moment the Scientologists were intent on expansion beyond America. Tom Cruise is a frequent guest at Saint Hill, while Grease star John Travolta, another prominent Scientologist, made headlines when he tried to book a table for his entourage at a nearby branch of KFC.

Scientology's presence in East Grinstead largely goes unnoticed by residents, but campaigners and council insiders increasingly fear local dignitaries are excessively in thrall to the church's money and celebrity potential.

For it was not just town mayor Frazer Visser who attended the Mission: Impossible premiere. (He's described the church as a 'valued and large part of East Grinstead'.) Three representatives of the town's county and district councils were also pictured at the May 2022 premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, which was

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