Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Ahead of the imminent release of Far Cry 5, Ubisoft sent video game-liker and Assassin’s Creed voice actor Danny Wallace to investigate the town of East Grinstead, Sussex, lying only an hour from Central London. The video shows us that East Grinstead is notable for a few reasons: it’s the home of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Andre’s first ever cafe (which sadly closed in 2016) and, uh, loads of weird religions and/or strange cults. For some reason.
East Grinstead has a population of around 26,000 and the number of religious organisations there is frankly bizarre relative to its size. As well as your expected, more normal Christian denominations from C of E to Mormons, East Grinstead is home to a centre for Opus Dei (a branch of Catholicism), the Rosicrucian Order (spiritual mystical types distinct from other established religions), and the UK headquarters of Scientology (definitely not a cult don’t sue us we can’t afford it). It used to be the world headquarters. L. Ron Hubbard actually lived in East Grinstead for years.
None of the groups are keen to be interviewed by a nerd/comedian in relation to a new video game about dangerous cults coming out, but Wallace does talk to a bunch of locals, one of whom describes going to Scientologist concerts and seeing John Travolta. It’s genuinely really weird. What is going on in East Grinstead?
Far Cry 5 is out March 27 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. We’ll have a review up soon!