House that Scientology built: Tom Cruise and John Travolta are in the front row to see opening of $145m cathedral where members will be trained to develop 'super powers'

Actors Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kelly Preston were in attendance yesterday as thousands of Scientologists gathered in Clearwater, Florida for the dedication of their new $145million 'cathedral'.

The 377,000-square-foot Flag Building is the tallest building in downtown Clearwater, and has been in construction for nearly 15 years. The opening of the building will mark the first time Scientologists have a place to practice the 'Super Power' program, developed by the religion's founder L Ron Hubbard in the 1970s. 

While the city was told to expect 10,000 Scientologists this weekend, the crowd gathered outside the Flag Building yesterday was noticeably smaller. The Tampa Bay Times estimated that numbers could have been less than 6,000.