He served as bishop of several dioceses, most notably as Archbishop of York and, on two occasions as Lord Chancellor.

He is considered a venerable figure in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, his town of birth.

[3] He was first educated as a young boy by a teacher of grammar, who came, according to Thomas, "I know not by what fate save it was the Grace of God".

[11] Immediately after Edward's death, Rotherham sided with dowager queen Elizabeth Woodville in her attempt to deprive Richard, Duke of Gloucester of his role as Lord Protector of the new King, her son Edward V. When Elizabeth sought sanctuary after Richard had taken charge of the king, Rotherham released the Great Seal to her.

Though he later recovered it and handed it over to Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury,[12] his mishandling of the seal – indicative of questionable loyalty, led to his dismissal as Lord Chancellor.

On 13 June 1483, Rotherham was charged with being involved in a conspiracy between Lord Hastings and the Woodvilles against Richard and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Rotherham built part of Lincoln College, Oxford, and increased its endowment;[15] at Cambridge, where he was four times Chancellor and Master of Pembroke Hall, he helped to build the University Library.

They were also to teach promising boys who did not aspire to the priesthood reading, writing, and reckoning, free of charge.