The Rev Ian Gregory, a former journalist and church minister, passed away at the age of 93. He gained public attention in the mid-1980s when he established a campaign organization aimed at promoting courtesy in British society, which he named the Polite Society. The initiative attracted significant media coverage from international outlets, and Gregory became a regular presence on television programs discussing civility and manners during that period.
Gregory was ordained as a minister in 1983 and served at King Street Congregational church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where he became known for taking an unconventional approach to Christian ministry. He was willing to perform ceremonies for divorced individuals and conducted blessing services in public houses rather than requiring people to attend traditional church settings. He also organized Christmas services specifically for bar and pub staff, reflecting his belief in meeting people in spaces where they felt at ease.
Before entering the ministry, Gregory worked as a journalist, beginning at the Stockport Advertiser in 1954. He was among the early journalists employed by BBC Radio Derby when the station launched in 1971, where he conducted notable interviews with local government officials. He continued his journalism career until retiring in 2003.
Gregory was born in Bolton to Gabriel Gregory, a Congregational minister, and Lilian Unsworth, a teacher. He attended theological training at Lancashire Independent College in Manchester. Throughout his life, he remained engaged with intellectual pursuits, regularly reading works on theology and science and writing pamphlets from his home office until his death. He is survived by his wife Trisha, whom he married in 1965, along with three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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