Thomas Witherow (1824–1890) was an Irish Presbyterian minister and historian.
Life
The son of Hugh Witherow, a farmer at Aughlish, near
Dungiven,
County Londonderry
County Londonderry (Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry (), is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty-two Counties of Ireland, count ...
, and his wife Elizabeth Martin, he was born at
Ballycastle on 29 May 1824. He received his early education at Ralliagh church school, and then studied with
James Bryce James Bryce may refer to:
* James Bryce (geologist) (1806–1877), Irish naturalist and geologist
* James Bryce (footballer) (1884–1916), Scottish footballer
* James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce (1838–1922), British jurist, historian and politicia ...
. Later on he went to
Belfast Academy and the
Royal Academical Institution.
In 1839 he entered the collegiate department of the Academical Institution, and here, with the exception of a session at Edinburgh, all his college days were spent.
In 1845 Witherow was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Glendermot, and in 1845 he was ordained at
Maghera
Maghera ( ; ) is a small town at the foot of the Glenshane Pass in Northern Ireland. Its population was 4,235 in the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. Formerly in the Barony (Ireland), barony of Loughinsholin within the historic County ...
, Londonderry, by the presbytery of Magherafelt, as colleague to Charles Kennedy. In 1865, on the opening of
Magee College
The Ulster University Derry~Londonderry campus, better known as Magee College, is one of the four campuses of Ulster University. It is located in Derry, Northern Ireland, and was opened in 1865 as a Presbyterian Christian arts and theological ...
, Londonderry, he was appointed by the General Assembly as Professor of Church History and Pastoral Theology.
He served as curator of the college's library and museum between at least 1869-70 and 1888–89.
The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory 1890, page 142
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In 1878 Witherow was elected moderator of the Irish General Assembly, and in 1884 as a senator of the Royal University of Ireland. He was made hon. D.D. in 1883 by the Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland, and LL.D. by the Royal University in 1885.
Witherow died on 25 January 1890 at Londonderry, and was buried in the city cemetery there.
Works
Witherow's main works were:
''The Apostolic Church—which is it?''
1856
A Reply
was published in 1867 by Rev. Thomas G. Porter
''Defence of the Apostolic Church''
1857.
* ''Scriptural Baptism; its Mode and Subjects'', 1859.
''An inquiry into the scriptural form of Church government. Extracted and abridged from 'The Apostolic Church''
1867
''The New Testament Elder: His position, powers and duties in the Christian Church''
1873
''Derry and Enniskillen in the year 1689''
1873.
''The Boyne and Aghrim''
1879.
* ''Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism in Ireland'' (1623–1800), 2 vols
Vol 1, 1623-1731Vol 2, 1731-1800
1879.
''History of the Reformation; a primer''
1882.
* ''Life of Rev. A. P. Goudy, D.D.'', begun by Thomas Croskery, 1887.
* ''Two Diaries of Derry in 1689, being Richards's Diary of the Fleet and Ash's Journal of the Siege, with Introduction and Notes'', 1888.
''The Form of the Christian Temple''
1889.
He was a contributor to the ''British and Foreign Evangelical Review'', the Belfast ''Witness'', and the Londonderry ''Standard'', and was one of the editors of the ''Presbyterian Review''.
Family
Witherow married Catharine, daughter of Thomas Milling of Maghera. They had seven daughters and three sons.
Notes
Attribution
{{DEFAULTSORT:Witherow, Thomas
1824 births
1890 deaths
19th-century Irish historians
Christian clergy from County Londonderry
Moderators of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Academics of Ulster University
19th-century Irish Presbyterian ministers
People educated at the Belfast Royal Academy
People educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution