The Rev Ian Gregory, who combined careers in journalism and Christian ministry, died at age 93. Born in Bolton to a Congregational minister father and teacher mother, Gregory attended boarding school and theological college before beginning work as a journalist at the Stockport Advertiser in 1954. He became one of the first journalists employed at BBC Radio Derby when the station launched in 1971, where he was known for combative interviews with local officials. He retired from journalism in 2003.
Gregory gained public attention in the 1980s when he established the Polite Society, a campaign group focused on promoting civility during an era marked by industrial disputes and cultural tension. The initiative attracted international media coverage, with Gregory quoted in major publications describing what he characterized as a decline in courtesy. He appeared frequently on television programs and collaborated with public figures, including members of rock bands, to promote the campaign’s message.
Ordained in 1983, Gregory served as a minister at King Street Congregational church in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Those who knew him described an approach to ministry that emphasized questioning and critical thinking rather than doctrinal conformity. He undertook several pastoral practices considered unconventional for his era, including officiating marriages for divorced individuals and conducting blessings in public houses rather than exclusively in church settings. A pub chain engaged him to provide staff training on courtesy, leading to a local establishment being named the Polite Vicar in his honor.
Gregory remained intellectually active throughout his life, reading theology and science literature and producing written works from a garden shed office. He is survived by his wife Trisha, whom he married in 1965, three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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