Ian Gregory, a former journalist and Congregational church minister, passed away at age 93. He had a dual career spanning several decades, initially working in journalism before eventually pursuing ordination in the church.
Greg Gregory gained public attention in the 1980s when he launched the Polite Society, a campaign aimed at promoting courtesy and civility during a period marked by significant social and political tension. The campaign attracted substantial media interest, with coverage appearing in major publications including the Los Angeles Times. He became a recognizable public figure, appearing frequently on breakfast television programs and collaborating with entertainment personalities to promote the initiative.
In his church work, Gregory served as a minister at King Street Congregational Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where he became known for adopting progressive approaches to religious ministry. He was willing to perform marriages for divorced individuals and held services in public venues such as pubs, which he believed helped reach people in their natural environments. His willingness to question doctrine and encourage congregants to think critically distinguished his ministry from more conventional approaches.
Before entering full-time ministry, Gregory worked as a journalist, beginning at the Stockport Advertiser in 1954 and later joining BBC Radio Derby when it launched in 1971, where he became known for challenging interviews with local officials. He retired from journalism in 2003 but remained intellectually engaged, continuing to read theology and science literature and writing pamphlets throughout his later years.
Gregory is survived by his wife Trisha, whom he married in 1965, three adult children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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