Dr. Witherow was a busy professor and was honored in several ways.In 1878, he was the moderator of the General Assembly meeting in Belfast, then in 1884 he became a senator (director) of the Royal University of Ireland. He was honored with the Doctor of Divinity in 1883 by the Presbyterian Theological Faculty Ireland, and the Royal University granted him the LL.D. in 1885. 

The death in Northern Ireland of former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness in 2017 and the passing of Ian Paisley in 2014 are reminders of the troubles resulting from England’s rule of the Irish. Some in the States will remember days when the evening news often reported violence between English troops and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). During the difficult years leading up to the current peace in Northern Ireland the troubles were not only between the Irish people and England, but the political issues also came forth in fighting along religious lines between Roman Catholics and Protestants including Presbyterians. Presbyterians had experienced opposition and persecution since their earliest days in Ireland and much of Irish history has been influenced by a triad of religious tension between the Church of Ireland, Roman Catholicism, and Protestants. One Presbyterian of the past in Ireland was Thomas Witherow.

Thomas was born May 29, 1824, to Hugh and Elizabeth Martin Witherow. His father was a farmer at Ballycastle, Londonderry, Ireland. Thomas’s early education was in what was called a “hedge school,” which was a school that met for the poor, lower class children. He continued his studies at the Belfast Academy which is currently Belfast Royal Academy. His next steps in education were completed in The Royal Belfast Academical Institution where he completed both his preparatory studies in its School Department, and then earned the general certificate from its College Department. During his college program he studied for a session in Edinburgh. The curriculum of The Royal Belfast Academical Institution was accepted by the Presbyterian Church to satisfy educational requirements for ministerial candidates.

Upon completion of his studies, Thomas Witherow began the process of ordination to the ministry. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Glendermott in 1844, then he was ordained October 1, 1845 in the Maghera Church by the Presbytery of Magherafelt. The long-time pastor, Charles Kennedy, was elderly and suffering from health problems so Witherow was to assist him with ministry and relieve him of some duties. The founding of the Maghera congregation had occurred in the mid-seventeenth century in a time when religious and political persecution of Presbyterians was common.

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