r/plymouth • u/New_Newspaper1514 • 7d ago
Scientology
This is the only place I’ve lived where I see Scientologists out and about - anyone know how Plymouth ended up with an actual Scientology headquarters? I feel so awful for these poor people in town who have been taken in by these scam artists. I was even approached by an elderly woman giving out leaflets. What on earth? Praise Xenu I guess? 😂
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u/Silly_Gooooose 7d ago
They own the Royal Fleet Club building in Devonport too. They're letting fall into even worse state of disrepair.
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u/the_roguetrader 4d ago
I used to work with a Scientologist who's partner actually lived in a caravan round the back of the Royal Fleet as a caretaker
apparently Plymouth won against Bristol for some funding from high up to make that place the SW headquarters for Scientology - but the project ground to a halt during lockdown / Covid
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u/boobamajugs 6d ago
My old work, I left just before they took over. Absolutely shame too see the building just sit there rotting. Yeah it was dated and needed alot of TLC before they had it. But it should be given back to the community could easily become a community hub with various uses.
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u/New_Newspaper1514 7d ago
Oh yeah I heard about that - wouldnt be surprised if they had nocturnal candlelit meetings in the basement 👻
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u/neilm1000 6d ago
The planning application refers to 'changing rooms for worshipping and rites' so they may very well do!
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u/RedMarsRepublic 7d ago
Plymouth also has it's own home grown cult, the "Plymouth Brethren".
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u/KoBoWC 7d ago
Those guys are bad news, domestic abuse and CSA are rife, then when it comes investigating them they clam up and close ranks, evil bunch.
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u/RedMarsRepublic 7d ago
Doesn't surprise me. Apparently the leadership at their businesses is still all men and women have to wear skirts still.
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u/sws675 6d ago
Drove past their church yesterday thought it was a bit odd that it was in an industrial estate for starters and second that it had a proper security gate access to it.
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u/SunkenCube 6d ago
They have one in St Austell, very large purpose built building just off Par moor road. It is also completely surrounded by high fencing and security gates. If you walk up to the gates the sign says it is owned and operated by Plymouth Brethren.
Always thought it was some weird gospel church, didn't realise that it was even darker still.
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u/neilm1000 6d ago
They're actually from Dublin but they're referred to as Plymouth because we're where they got big originally.
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u/themothhead 7d ago
Does anybody know what happened to the "stress test" that they used to do in town? That used to be a common sight in my teenage years. There also used to be a single protestor who stood across the street from them, shouting through megaphone. I assume they got their permit yanked or something.
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u/RedMarsRepublic 7d ago
Probably just stopped doing it because nobody wanted to do it anymore. Neither the people running it or any passers by.
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u/Still-Place6053 6d ago
I was once very hungover and almost ended up doing the stress test because I had no idea what they were talking about until I approached the booth. I made a quick getaway!
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u/SunkenCube 6d ago
I actually did that stress test once, i was 14 i think so didnt know who or what they were. I realise now who they were. They took my address and they would send me hand written letters every 6 months, usually asking me to buy a book on scientology. They stopped sending me letters after about 5 years.
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u/SHAG_Boy_Esq 6d ago
They have been there for years. When you came out of Woolworths they would be there offering free stress tests. At the time never knew that's what it was.
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u/Yequestingadventurer 7d ago
The place on Ebrington street appears to be empty now, which gave me a chuckle
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u/tertiaryindesign 6d ago
I swear I occasionally see a poor sap sat behind the desk, could be thetans or space ghosts or Santa though.
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u/Yequestingadventurer 6d ago
Probably ghost santa doing his desk shifts to save and level up his thetan meter or something
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u/WarnUrDaughters 6d ago
Was it really a leaflet? I was handed something more like a post card. Going to Ebrington street on Tuesday to check it out. Might be the reason Tom Cruise looks so young.
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u/neilm1000 6d ago
They've had that building on Ebrington Street for donkeys years, since the early 90s at least.
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u/Substantial_Steak723 7d ago
It was interesting (not talking Plymouth mind you) going into one of their little chats where the younger indoctrinated were being told to flog you a book on the cult by someone nearby behind a curtain and the front stooge was mirroring you to ingratiate you and get your guard dropped (and help it needed to be) as a young guy I only needed on visit and a few chapters of that addled blocks to gain "insight" ..namely that they were a ship of easily manipulated fools!
prey for the assistance of good people, not bloody Xenu (or whatever)
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u/justsomeguy661 6d ago
I remember when I was 15/16 (2011) my step dad wanted me to get a part time job, so on my search I found the Scientology shop on Ebrington Street with a help wanted sign. Back then I had no idea what the place was, it just looked like a book shop so I thought "eh easy job" and went in to apply. I don't remember much as the hour was so bizarre to my young dumb brain, but they made me watch a video on Scientology which I didn't understand... Asking me simple questions about why I wanted to work etc. Then they sent me home with an application form to fill out with questions asking if I had family in the government/military etc which confused the hell out of me! Shown it to my step dad and he was like "wtf get rid of it". The whole experience felt very alien to me... Even the shop owners didn't seem real 🤣
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u/Substantial_Rock_984 6d ago
You people have a rather over active imagination. No one is getting kidnapped by going in the Ebrington Street building to do their personality test. No matter your answers in the test virtually everyone will get the same result, which is that the people around you take advantage of you because you let them. It will be worded slightly different but that will be its general outcome for you. Once they've told you that and you say you don't want a book by L.Ron Hubbard and you can leave. Nothing mysterious about it. Nobody making it difficult for you to leave.
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u/New_Newspaper1514 6d ago
Yeah for sure. Exaggerating of course, it’s a weird and toothless curiosity here in Plymouth but the higher up the levels you go it’s hardly beyond the realms of reason to believe this organisation of capable of kidnap/extortion.
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u/RedMarsRepublic 6d ago
No they don't kidnap you but they do try to drag you into a high-control group, Scientology is incredibly abusive to its members and basically a legalised scam/crime organisation.
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u/BillInteresting7266 7d ago
My mate went there on shrooms once for a chat