CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY NETS FAMOUS JOBURG LANDMARK – KYALAMI CASTLE
The Church of Scientology has acquired the famous Johannesburg landmark, the Kyalami Castle, to be the home of its new advanced spiritual retreat. This marks a significant step for Scientologists who until now had to travel all the way to the U.S, Australia or England for their higher spiritual progress.
“For all African Scientologists, this is a dream finally come true,” said Paul Sondergaard, national Director of the Public Affairs Office. “It means a lot to the future expansion of the Church in Africa.”
The 64,000 square foot castle on 22 acres of land will be providing religious services to people from throughout the Continent. It is the latest acquisition in a long series of 66 buildings the Church has purchased internationally over the past 5 years to accommodate the Church’s expansion.
“But the Kyalami Castle is the best yet,” says Sondergaard, “and a fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Church in Southern Africa.”
Other buildings have been purchased in South Africa over the past year including the seven-story St Georges Center in the heart of Cape Town City, buildings in Morningside in Durban, Church Street in Pretoria and a feature building in the recently renovated Goven Mbeki Avenue in Port Elizabeth. In Johannesburg, the Church which has become a prominent feature in the Kensington, Bedforview area, having taken over the old Kensington Golf Club house and subsequently expanding and fully renovating it.
For those who have questions about the Church, a new video channel has been launched on its official website (http://www.scientology.org/). The Scientology Video Channel provides a comprehensive overview of the basic beliefs and practices of the religion while answering the question ‘What is Scientology?’, as well as information on the many humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church – programs addressing drug abuse, illiteracy, human rights and disaster relief.
The Church of Scientology was first established in the United States in 1954, and in 1957, the first African Church opened in Johannesburg.
