When Tom Cruise’s helicopter touched down in the quiet English town of East Grinstead, it wasn’t just the whirring blades that caught attention.
The Hollywood star’s visit to the Church of Scientology’s annual Sussex fundraiser ended up causing quite the uproar among locals — and this year, things got louder than ever.
Bagpipes and Backlash: Locals Battle the Noise
Residents say the Church of Scientology went all out to drown out nearby protesters by blasting bagpipe music through massive speakers.
The unusual soundtrack was meant to overpower demonstrators who’ve been returning to the event for the fourth year in a row.
One local resident, who preferred to stay anonymous, said the entire ordeal was “very disruptive.”
He explained that preparations had been going on for weeks:
“For six to eight weeks they were laying down pallets in the field to make a car park — lorry after lorry coming in, all that noise.
Then they made all the neighbours listen to bagpipe music on a loop all day.”
He added that even after the event ended, the noise didn’t stop.
“They had two generators running to power floodlights in the car park.
One didn’t go off until 1am, and the other ran all night — lighting up an empty car park right behind our house.”
Despite describing himself as tolerant and non-religious, the resident admitted his patience was wearing thin.
“Scientology say they’ve cleaned up their act,” he said, “but they’ve still got the same boss — I don’t think they’ve changed their spots.”
Traffic, Chaos, and Tom’s Grand Entrance
Another neighbour echoed the frustration, describing the event as “an endless stream of people and so much noise.”
They said the small-town infrastructure simply couldn’t handle thousands of guests flooding in for the global gathering.
“Then you’ve got Tom flying over in his chopper and it causes a right old racket,” they added.
“To top things off, a minibus ended up having an accident with another driver, which meant one of the roads had to be closed.”
The Church’s Attempt to Silence Protests
The Church of Scientology had previously tried to stop these yearly protests altogether.
Back in July 2024, they requested a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) from Mid Sussex District Council, claiming that demonstrations outside their gates caused “harassment, disturbance and alarm” to their members.
However, the council’s cabinet was set to reject the application before the church withdrew it in June 2025.
Scientology’s Response: “A Celebration of Culture and Community”
In response to criticism, a spokesman for the Church of Scientology in the UK defended the event, emphasizing its positive impact.
“The Church of Scientology’s annual celebration at Saint Hill, East Grinstead drew over 7,000 attendees from across the UK and around the world,” they said. “The weekend featured traditional bagpipe performances, community festivities, and a gala charity concert supporting local causes.”
According to the church, the event brought “significant cultural and economic benefits” to the area and was “warmly welcomed by residents.”
Tom Cruise Steps Back Into the Spotlight
The Saint Hill celebration came just days before Tom Cruise was spotted back in London following the reported end of his nine-month romance with actress Ana de Armas.
The 63-year-old actor made a red-carpet appearance at the London premiere of The Running Man alongside his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell.
At the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, Cruise was photographed chatting with 23-year-old actress Emilia Jones, who also stars in The Running Man.
Jones is best known for her acclaimed performance in CODA — the Oscar-winning drama about a hearing daughter in a deaf family — and for her lead role in Netflix’s Locke & Key.
What’s Next for Tom Cruise?
After a high-profile breakup and a noisy reunion with fellow Scientologists, Tom Cruise seems to be diving straight back into work and appearances.
Whether he’ll return to East Grinstead next year — and whether locals will have their earplugs ready — remains to be seen.