Rev Ian Gregory, an ordained Congregational minister and former journalist, passed away at age 93. He became widely known in the 1980s for founding the Polite Society, a campaign group aimed at promoting courtesy in British society. The initiative gained significant media attention during a period marked by economic and labor tensions. Gregory appeared frequently on television programs and attracted support from various public figures, including musicians who publicly endorsed the campaign.
Before his ordination in 1983, Gregory worked as a journalist for several decades. He began his journalism career in 1954 at the Stockport Advertiser after completing theological studies at Lancashire Independent College in Manchester. He later became one of the first journalists employed by BBC Radio Derby when the station launched in 1971, where he conducted notably assertive interviews with local political figures. He retired from journalism in 2003.
As a minister at King Street Congregational church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Gregory became known for approaches that diverged from conventional ministerial practice. He was willing to perform marriages for divorced individuals and held religious services in public houses, believing in meeting people in settings where they felt at ease. He also blessed infants in pubs and conducted Christmas services for pub licensees. His willingness to question faith and encourage critical thinking distinguished his ministry. A public house in his hometown was eventually named after him in recognition of his work promoting courtesy and his involvement with hospitality staff training.
Gregory was born in Bolton to Gabriel Gregory, a Congregational minister, and Lilian Unsworth, a teacher. He attended Silcoates boarding school in Wakefield and Peartree secondary school in Derby. He is survived by his wife Trisha, whom he married in 1965, three adult children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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