Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/McKerrow, John
McKERROW, JOHN (1789–1867), presbyterian divine, born in Mauchline, Ayrshire, 15 May 1789, received his early education in the village school, and in 1803 proceeded to Glasgow University, where he distinguished himself as a student. He entered in August 1807 the Divinity Hall of the Secession Church at Selkirk, which was under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Lawson, and in 1812 was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Kilmarnock. He was shortly afterwards called by the congregations of Ecclefechan and Bridge of Teith, and was ordained at Teith on 25 Aug. 1813 as colleague and successor to the Rev. William Fletcher. At the same time McKerrow for some years conducted without assistance and gratuitously all the correspondence of the united secession synod, and controlled to a great extent its missionary operations. In 1841 the degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Washington College, U.S.A. His jubilee was celebrated in August 1863. He died at Teith 13 May 1867. He was eminently distinguished for his pastoral fidelity and zeal.
McKerrow published detailed accounts of the rise and progress of his church and of its missions, and his work is always accurate in matters of fact and clear in style. The titles of his publications are: 1. 'History of the Secession Church,' 1839. 2. 'The Office of Ruling Elder in the Christian Church,' to which in 1846 a prize of 50l. was awarded. 3. 'History of the Foreign Missions of the Secession and United Presbyterian Churches,' 1867. McKerrow was also a frequent contributor to the 'Christian Repository,' the 'Edinburgh Theological Magazine,' the 'United Secession Magazine,' and other religious periodicals.
[The above works by McKerrow; biographical notice in U. P. Mag. September 1867.]