Other notable brothers included businessman James Gray, fur trader Angus and politician Donald.
In 1867, after a long and successful career, he was consecrated as bishop of the Diocese of Toronto by the Reverend John Strachan.
Bethune inherited a diocese quite fragmented from methods and policies attributed to Strachan and/or the Family Compact.
Bethune died in Toronto in 1879, shortly before the North-West Rebellion, and was succeeded as bishop by Arthur Sweatman.
One of his sons, Alexander Bethune, continued the clergy family tradition, serving at Trinity Church.