The Beginning: From Scientology to Compulsions Analysis and Founding
Meeting in London (1962)
The story begins in London in the early 1960s.
Robert de Grimston and Mary Ann MacLean met while they were both in Scientology.
They were active members.
They wanted to explore ideas beyond what L. Ron Hubbard taught.
The founding of the Process Church was influenced by their experiences in Scientology.
In 1962, both were pushed out of Scientology.
They married the next year.
They did not stop seeking a new path.
Instead, they created a new method called Compulsions Analysis.
It mixed therapy, self-help, and spiritual ideas.
Through the founding of Compulsions Analysis, they paved the way for their future endeavors.
The founding of their new method marked a significant turning point in their journey.
Compulsions Analysis (1963–1965)
The early followers were drawn to the founding principles that Robert and Mary Ann established.
Compulsions Analysis started as a small therapy group.
Robert and Mary Ann used some ideas from Scientology, but they also created new methods.
A few people in London joined them.
These early followers liked the couple’s strong personalities and bold ideas.
The group lived together in a shared home.
This early communal life became a model for the Process Church later.
Members tried new forms of therapy, meditation and group work.
These experiments shaped the beliefs that would soon follow.
The Transformation (1966)
Birth of The Process
In 1966, everything changed.
Compulsions Analysis stopped being a therapy group.
It became a religion.
The new name was The Process Church of the Final Judgment.
This was not a simple name change.
The group now focused on big questions: life, death, God and the future of the world.
They moved from personal healing to spiritual purpose.
The Mexican Pilgrimage
The next major step came when the group traveled to Xtul, in Mexico.
This was not a holiday.
It was a retreat for deep spiritual work.
They lived in harsh conditions.
They had little comfort and few supplies.
They spent months focused on prayer, meditation and reflection.
This commune played a significant role in the founding of their community.
In Mexico, their main ideas took form.
They developed the belief in four Gods: Jehovah, Christ, Lucifer and Satan.
They also formed their idea of joining opposites through love.
Many members later said this time in Mexico created the Process Church’s true identity.
They returned to London with a full belief system and a clear mission.
The Mayfair Commune
The group set up its first commune in Mayfair, a wealthy area of London.
The space looked simple but striking.
Members began to wear special clothing.
This style soon grew into the well-known black robes and silver crosses.
During this time, the group shaped its early beliefs and rituals.
Robert became the main religious voice.
Mary Ann ran the daily operations and enforced discipline.
Their visual identity became part of the founding ethos of the Process Church.
Robert’s writings about the founding ideas were crucial to their growth.
The Visual Identity
Mary Ann’s leadership during the founding years ensured stability and direction.
After Mexico, the group built a strong visual style.
They used black robes, large silver crosses and bold graphic art.
This look was deliberate.
They wanted to stand out in the fast-changing culture of the 1960s.
Their magazine had sharp design, strong images and unique layouts.
It looked as professional as major art publications.
This helped the group gain attention and set them apart from other groups.
Key Figures in the Founding
Wylie’s accounts provide insight into the founding experiences of the group.
Robert de Grimston
Robert was born Robert Moor.
He later took the name de Grimston.
He wrote most of the group’s teachings.
His ideas mixed Christianity, Gnosticism and occult thought.
He led the group until 1974, when he was expelled.
Mary Ann MacLean
Mary Ann ran the group’s structure.
She focused on rules, order and loyalty.
She guided the Process through major changes that followed Robert’s expulsion.
Early Members
The first members included artists, writers and spiritual seekers.
They brought skills in design, photography and storytelling.
Their talents helped shape the group’s powerful visual and written style.
Timothy Wylie
Wylie wrote extensively about his time in the Process Church of the Final Judgment. A timeline of its history appears in one of his books.
Next: What was the Process Church belief system?
Next: What was the Process Church belief system?
In conclusion, the founding of the Process Church has had a lasting impact.