And he has amazed a present-day descendant who has also converted to Islam.
Robert's political life was well documented as mayor of Stalybridge between 1874 and 1876.
He held the now-defunct title of alderman between 1874 and 1880 and was a councillor in Dukinfield and Stalybridge. His change of faith was discovered by Robert's great, great, great grandson Steven Longden, 39, and his father Brian as they delved into family history.
It emerged that Robert had converted to Islam and may have been the first Muslim mayor.
Known as Robert Reschid Stanley he was one of the most influential members of Manchester's then 40-strong Muslim community.
A campaign backed by religious leaders and politicians is underway to honour him with a blue plaque at the entrance of Stalybridge Civic Hall.
Steven Longden, also a Muslim convert, said the discovery is an inspiration for him, wife Rozina and sons Eesaa and Yaaseen.
Mr Longden, who lives in Trafford, said: "It was a surprise to discover I had a relation who converted to Islam some time before me.
"When my dad found out he phoned me up and said `you had better sit down'. I was very surprised and pleased.
"We discovered the fact from a feature in a newsletter from 1907 and found out he was one of the most influential Muslims in the north west." Retired mechanic Brian Longden, 69, from Dukinfield, said: "We are very proud of him and want to share what we have found with the people of Stalybridge, Greater Manchester and the rest of the country." Stalybridge MP James Purnell and former Lord Mayor of Manchester Coun Afzal Khan have signed a letter to council officials to ask for the plaque.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
So? What's religion got to do with someone holding public office, or any other job for that matter?
Why do we have this fixation to have the first "Black/asian/muslim mayor" I think these stories fuel unrest amoungst communities ,and cause more problems than they solve.Take religion out of politics it only causes problems.
Most British Muslims are under 25. They suffer from Identity Crises including Ed Husain, because they have been mis-educated and de-educated by state schools with non-Muslim monolingual teachers. Imams and Masajid have done a wonderful job by teaching Muslim children the Holly Quran and some basic Islamic traditions and rituals. But that is not enough. The first wave of Muslim migrants arrived with their cultures, languages and faith. Majority of British Muslims are from Pakistan and this is the main reason why majority of Masajid were set up by the Pakistanis with their own Imams from Pakistan who are well versed in Arabic, Urdu and Persian and lot of them also well versed in English. They deliver lectures in Arabic and Urdu and will keep on delivering in those languages. English is our economic language while Arabic and Urdu is our social, emotional and spiritual languages. I have been campaigning for state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers for the last 35 years so that Muslim children could be well versed in English, Arabic, Urdu and other community languages. They need to learn standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. They need to learn and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural roots and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry. But unfortunately, no body paid any attention to my proposal in the beginning. I set up the first Muslim schools in 1981 and now there are 166 Muslim schools and only ten are state funded. Less than 5 % of Muslim children are in Muslim schools while 96 % are still mis-educated and de-educated in state and Church schools with those teachers who are not role models for them. There are hundreds of state and Church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools so that young Muslim children could feel pride in their culture, languages and faith. Iftikhar Ahmad
www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
Iftikhar, Forest gate London
Maybe not all muslim people want to go to muslim schools maybe they would like to fully integrate into the western way of life and not your idea of how they should live? I know quite a few muslems that didnt want to go to the mosque but were forced against their wishes? i bumped into one of them a few months ago and now in his 50s he said that hes not been to the mosque for years ? it dosnt make him a bad person just somebody with their own view in life? just like the christian who dosnt go to church....
Iftikhar
Ace is a little bit like the surprise chocolate in the box. You know the one, the wrapper looks like this one but the shape is a bit odd. The coffee cream.
He is saying I think, that we the secular population carry the faith we were born in to, like it or not. We are given our denomination, for want of a better word, by our birth, not by choice.
Many people of faith actually have little or none but the title Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist. These are perhaps, the very ones that preach one thing but do another, that cause most friction in our society
Good people no matter what their beliefs just get along. That does not mean no arguments , debates or differences. It means we all just want to look after our family, and neighbour pay the bills and get on.
I was forced to go to sunday school by the way.
Iftikhar, young british muslims only have 'identity crises' because of people like yourself leading them to believe this to be true! The language in this country is english. The state should not be funding schools to teach minority languages which should be taught at home or self funded. If I chose to live in Spain for example I wouldn't expect the state to fund me whilst I learnt the language - I would have to pay my way and rightly so.
SB Manchester
Iftikhar Ahmad:
Firstly, may I say that you do yourself no favours by putting up a post about education which is riddled with bad grammar and poor syntax. Clearly English is not a priority in your educational establishment.
Secondly, I couldn't help smiling at your comment:
"There are hundreds of state and Church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools so that young Muslim children could feel pride in their culture, languages and faith".
I do not understand why muslim families would want to come to Britain, take advantage of everything we offer but then want to put so much effort into celebrating, practising, learning, living in, absorbing the culture, languages and faith of their previous homes. Why leave in the first place if that culture is so attractive?
Finally, as much as you want to preserve your culture, languages and faith - and are positively encouraged to do so by all and sundry - why is it considered racist for me to want to preserve mine against what, at present, seems to be an enormous pressure for me to abandon my culture to a multicultural hotch potch?
MEN - if you don't post this I will seriously start to doubt your impartiality of desire to encourage open debate.
Bean B4, manchester Spot on and a lot of people feel the same way about our country.
Ace: I know. I hear them every day. Pity they aren't allowed to speak up.