Bernard, rector of Houghton, distinguished for piety and hospitality, was descended from an ancient family in Westmoreland, and born at Kentmere, in 1517. Being bred in the Roman Catholic religion, he for some time defended it against the Reformers, and at Oxford held a disputation with Hooper, afterwards Bishop of Worcester, and a martyr for the Protestant faith; but he was staggered in another disputation with Peter Martyr, and began seriously to examine the contested points by the best authorities. Accordingly, being presented to the vicarage of Norton, in the diocese of Durham, he soon resigned it, and went abroad to consult eminent professors on both sides; and, after three years' absence, returned a little before the death of Queen Mary, satisfied with the general doctrines of the Reformation. He was kindly received by his uncle Dr Tonstall, Bishop of Durham, who soon afterwards gave him the archdeaconry of Durham, to which the rectory of Effington was annexed. When repairing to his parish, though the persecution was then at its height, he boldly preached against the vices, errors, and corruptions of the times, especially among the clergy; on which a charge, consisting of thirteen articles, was drawn up against him, and presented in form to the bishop. But Dr Tonstall found a method of dismissing the cause in such a manner as to protect his nephew without endangering himself, and soon afterwards presented him to the rich living of Houghton-le-Spring. He was a second time accused to the bishop, and again protected; but his enemies, enraged at this second defeat, laid their complaint before Dr Bonner, Bishop of London, who immediately gave orders to apprehend him. Upon this, Gilpin prepared for martyrdom; and having ordered his house-steward to provide him a long garment, that he might make a decent appearance at the stake, he set out for London. Providentially, however, he broke his leg on the journey, which protracted his arrival until the news of the queen's death freed him from all further apprehension. Being immediately set at liberty, he returned to Houghton, where he was received by his parishioners with the most sincere joy.

Upon the deprivation of the Roman Catholic bishops, he was offered the see of Carlisle, which he declined; and confining his attention to his rectory, he discharged all the duties of his office in the most exemplary manner. He employed much of his time in endeavouring to improve the minds of the young of his parish, suffering none to grow up in ignorance of their duty, but pressing it as the wisest part to unite religion with labour, and amidst the cares of this life to have a constant eye upon the next. He attended to everything which might be of service to his parishioners, and was assiduous in preventing lawsuits among them. His hall is said to have been often thronged with people who came to him about their differences. He was not indeed much acquainted with law, but he could decide equitably, and that satisfied them; nor could his sovereign's commission have given his decisions greater weight or authority than his own character secured.

His hospitable manner of living was the admiration of all. He spent in his family every fortnight forty bushels of corn, twenty bushels of malt, and an ox; besides a proportional quantity of other kinds of provisions. Strangers and travellers found a cheerful reception. All were welcome who came; and even their horses had so much care taken off them, that it was humorously said, if a horse were turned loose in any part of the country, it would immediately make its way to the rector of Houghton.

Every Sunday, from Michaelmas till Easter, was a public day with him. During this season he expected to see all his parishioners and their families. For their reception, he had three tables well covered; the first being intended for gentlemen, the second for husbandmen and farmers, and the third for day-labourers. This piece of hospitality he never omitted, even when losses or scarcity made its continuance rather difficult. He considered it was his duty, and that was a decisive motive.

But notwithstanding all his painful industry, and the large scope he had for it in so extensive a parish, Mr Gilpin thought the sphere of his benevolence too confined. It grieved him extremely to see everywhere, in the parishes around him, so great a degree of ignorance and superstition, occasioned by the shameful neglect of the pastoral cure among the clergy. The bad consequences resulting from this induced him to supply, as far as he could, what was wanting in others. For this purpose, he used every year regularly to visit the most neglected parishes in Northumberland, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland; and that his own parish might not in the mean time suffer, he was at the expense of a constant assistant. In each place he stayed two or three days, instructing the people in as plain a way as possible.

The value of Gilpin's rectory was about £100 a-year; an income at that time very considerable, yet in appearance very disproportionate to the generous things he performed with it; indeed he could not have done these unless his frugality had been equal to his generosity. His friends, therefore, could not but wonder to find him, amidst his many great and continual expenses, entertain the design of building and endowing a grammar-school; a design, however, which his exact economy soon enabled him to accomplish, though the expense of it amounted to upwards of £500. His school was no sooner opened than it began to flourish; and so great a number of young people flocked to it, that in a little time the town was not able to accommodate them. He put himself, therefore, to the inconvenience of fitting up, for that purpose, a part of his own house, where he seldom had fewer than twenty or thirty children. Some of these were the sons of persons of substance, whom he boarded at small rates; but the greater part were poor children, whom he educated, clothed, and maintained at his own charge. He was at the expense likewise of boarding in the town many other poor children.

He not only placed in his school able masters, whom he procured from Oxford, but he himself likewise constantly inspected it. One method used by him to fill his school was singular. Whenever he met a poor boy upon the road, he would try his capacity by a few questions, and if he found it such as to please him, he would provide for his education. And besides those whom he sent from his own school to the universities, and there wholly maintained, he likewise gave to others, who were in circumstances to do something for themselves, what further assistance they required.

In his walks abroad, he would frequently bring home with him poor people, and send them away clothed as well as fed. But the money best laid out was, in his opinion, that which encouraged industry. It was one of his greatest pleasures to make up the losses of his laborious neighbours, and prevent their sinking under them. If a poor man had lost a beast, he would send him another in its room; or if any farmer had had a bad year, he would make him an abatement in his tithes. Thus, as far as he was able, he took the misfortunes of his parish upon himself; and, like a true shepherd, he exposed himself for his flock.

This benevolent and excellent divine, who merited and obtained the glorious titles of Father of the Poor, and the Apostle of the North, died in 1583, in the sixty-sixth year of his age.