While Mary Gladstone’s name may not be widely known, the fruit of her labours is clearly evident.
As a new Christian at Cambridge, she and her friends befriended an unconverted fresher, Helen Roseveare, later to become one of the foremost missionaries of the 20th century.
Meticulous editor and proofreader
Mary graduated in 1946 in modern languages, and in 1951 joined IVP (then IVF). For 35 years she applied theological nous to copy-editing, and she proofread to meticulous standards, helping establish IVP as the UK’s then leading independent evangelical publisher. She worked on the landmark Illustrated Bible Dictionary; her final book was John Stott’s The Cross of Christ.
Mary was a Royal Choral Society member, and sang in the annual Albert Hall Messiah.
A scion of William Ewart Gladstone, Mary was born in Sedbergh, the Cumbrian town where she and her brother Dick, a schoolmaster, would retire. In retirement she immersed herself in the life of St Andrews Church and the musical life of Sedbergh School. At 92 she still led intercessions, and sang in the church choir. Latterly Mary became blind, and was lovingly supported by neighbours and friends. She died in Christ on 6 August 2020.
