The Church of Scientology uses Adelaide address to funnel $50 million a year for UK operations

The Church of Scientology funnels more than $50 million a year from the United Kingdom through a tiny office on Pulteney St — but it won’t explain why.

More than $50 million a year from the Church of Scientology in the United Kingdom is funnelled through the tiny Scientology office on Pulteney St.

Financial statements show the money is mostly from donations in the UK, and is used to provide religious services in the UK.

The Church will not explain why they use 225 Pulteney St to lodge the Church of Scientology Religious Education College (COSRECI) financials, at one point saying it was for “historical reasons”.

The UK headquarters are in Saint Hill Manor, in Sussex, a sprawling mansion that reportedly had a $30 million renovation.

The Manor was Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard’s UK home.

On UK documents, Church officials filing the Adelaide returns list another mansion — Walsh Manor — as their address.

That’s where Saint Hill Manor staff are accommodated.

Former officials have been listed in Plympton Park, Torrensville — and even at Jolleys Boat House, the riverside restaurant.

The Scientology office on Pulteney St in the CBD. Picture: Morgan Sett e/ The Advertiser

The Church has built a $37 million centre in Sydney with a gym, sauna and cafe.

The 2017 financial records for the COSRECI note that “all the activities of the entity are based in the UK and there are no financial transactions between the Association’s branches in the UK and in Australia”.

Nevertheless, 225 Pulteney St is the listed address.

The Advertiser is not suggesting the Church is doing anything illegal.

Scientology was invented by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard and has a high profile thanks to celebrity believers including actors Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

Adherents believe everyone is an immortal known as a thetan created by an evil alien called Xenu.

Scientologists believe that through a process known as auditing people can clear the distress of their past lives, eventually becoming an Operating Thetan, which is “one who can handle things without having to use a body of physical means”.

Actor John Travolta in scene from the film Battlefield Earth, which was based on one of Hubbard’s stories.

When asked why UK funds were recorded by the Adelaide office, Scientology Australia spokeswoman Sei Kato said “COSRECI is an incorporated association registered in South Australia, which is why it has an Adelaide address”.

Ms Kato did not respond to follow up questions about why Adelaide was chosen.

She said Scientology’s tax bill in the UK was “not affected by the fact that it is an Australian entity” but did not answer a question about any financial advantage gained from using an Adelaide office.

COSRECI raised about $24 million in 2013 and $21 million in 2014, before the number jumped to $51.34 million in 2017, which Ms Kato said was from a “massive expansion” in the UK in the last few years after a Supreme Court finding in 2013 that Scientology was a religion.

Almost all of that money is from parishioner donations for religious services or contributions from organisations and individuals.

COSRECI’s expenses came to $43.72 million, of which $1.47 million was rent; more than the Pulteney St office would cost to buy.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission publishes all charity financial information online and investigates any concerns unearthed through complaints or internal investigations.

Originally published as The Church of Scientology uses Adelaide address to funnel $50 million a year for UK operations