Rev Ian Gregory, who has died at age 93, was an ordained Congregational minister and former journalist whose career spanned multiple decades and encompassed both media and religious work. Born in Bolton to Gabriel Gregory, a Congregational minister, and Lilian Unsworth, a teacher, Gregory attended Silcoates boarding school in Wakefield and later studied theology at Lancashire Independent College in Manchester during the early 1950s.
After leaving theological college, Gregory initially pursued journalism rather than immediate ordination, joining the Stockport Advertiser as a reporter in 1954. He became one of the first journalists at BBC Radio Derby when the station launched in 1971, where he conducted notable interviews with local officials. His journalism career continued until his retirement in 2003. Gregory was ordained as a minister in 1983 and served at King Street Congregational Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where he developed a reputation for an approach to ministry that emphasized questioning and critical thinking rather than unquestioning acceptance of doctrine.
During the 1980s, Gregory became widely known for establishing the Polite Society, a campaign group aimed at promoting courtesy and civil behavior during a period marked by significant social and political tension. The campaign generated substantial media attention, with coverage appearing in publications including the Los Angeles Times. Gregory’s ministry was characterized by progressive practices for his time, including performing marriages for divorced individuals and conducting services in unconventional settings such as pubs, which he viewed as spaces where people felt comfortable. A pub in his hometown was named the Polite Vicar in recognition of his work.
Gregory maintained intellectual curiosity throughout his life, continuing to read widely in theology and science and writing pamphlets from his home office. He was survived by his wife Trisha, whom he married in 1965, their three children Russell, Rachel, and Jamie, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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