Worthington was ordained deacon in June 1863, and priest in 1865. He served as assistant at St Paul's Church in Troy, New York, and then became rector of Christ Church in Ballston Spa, New York. In 1868, he became rector of St. John's Church in Detroit. He remained there until 1885 when consecrated Bishop of Nebraska. While in Detroit he was at times the acting for the Bishop of Michigan. In 1883, he was elected as Missionary Bishop of Shanghai, however, he declined the election. Due to his heart condition, Worthington was unable to remain in the high altitude of Nebraska, and consequently moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1890, while the diocese was administered by his coadjutor, and eventual successor, Arthur Llewllyn Williams. In May 1907, Worthington was appointed Bishop of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, after which he moved to France.
He died suddenly in January 1908, as he was walking a street in Menton, France. His cause of death was due to heart disease. His body was identified by his wife a day later, as he had no identification papers at the time of his death.[1][2]
