His early death at the age of 45 was a tremendous loss, not only to the Mission for which he had done so much, but also to the host of friends he had in EA and in England. His name is on foundation stone of Church of Christ in Meru.

Witchmen - [Rev John B.] Griffiths's subsequent report of this expedition electrified Methodist leaders back in London. Describing Meru as a land of "hills, valleys, and innumerable streams," he found it "unlike any other area in Africa": 'Its hills are covered with ferns, hedges are thick with blackberry bushes, and in the streams watercress abounds …. [and] mosquitoes are unknown ……. We have been toiling for 50 years in the sweltering climate of the coast, contending with tremendous difficulties, bitter disappointments and deaths. We have been for years meditating upon seeking another and better country in which our men can live and labor and reap. SIR, HERE IT IS. THE FUTURE OF OUR EAST AFRICAN MISSION LIES HERE. I implore the committee to enter it."

By 1910 London members of the United Methodist church had responded to Griffiths's glowing report with the decision to extend their mission into Meru. Efforts began immediately to recruit a missionary, carpenter and doctor to launch the project. The carpenter's position ("industrial missionary") was granted, in 1911, to Rev. Frank Mimmack. In January 1912 he and Griffiths left England to occupy the allotted site and begin construction of the first buildings.  To search for a minister and doctor took longer, Griffiths having declined both positions in favor of returning to the Kenya coast. Eventually the posts were combined and awarded to Rev. Reginald Worthington. Worthington had entered the Methodist ministry in 1910. After a period in the Home Service he began to look abroad and was overjoyed at the prospect of pioneering in a virgin field. As a minister, however, he lacked medical training; thus he delayed his departure several months to acquire a basic knowledge of medicine. Worthington sailed for Kenya in December 1912, joining Griffiths at Mombasa. …… the two travelled up-country . To Meru …………… [more on his ministry at Meru]

Gazette - 29/10/1919 - Register of Voters - Ukamba Area - Reginald Trelfa Worthington - Minister of Religion, UMC Mission, Meru and Margaret Dickson Lithgow Worthington - Married woman, UMC Mission, Meru

Gazette 15 May 1934 probate

EAS 21 Nov 1933 He died at his home in England on 18th October after a short illness. He left Kenya last November to go on leave. Mr and Mrs Worthington were already booked to return to Kenya this month. In 1912 Worthington was appointed to Kenya to open up missionary work in the Meru District. In those days Meru was a good week's safari from Nairobi. He built a hospital and school opened in 1930 and 1931. He was the first to put the Meru language in writing and translated the Gospels of Mark and John. While in England this year he was busy preparing the Gospels of Matthew and Luke for the press. In addition he prepared a catechism and hymn book. In 1929 he succeeded Rev JB Griffiths as chairman of the District and General Superintendent of the Mission. As an administrator he showed skill and foresight and many of the developments of recent years are due to his ability to cooperate with government and the Home Board. He secured important increases in staff which made for a great future and one can but admire the facility with which he was able to grasp situations and cope with them successfully. If Mr Worthington loved Meru and its people it was because he saw in them great possibilities. Education and medical assistance would do something he knew and he worked along those lines. He planned to erect a permanent church building when he returned to Kenya. His work was by no means finished and the Methodist Missionary Society has lost one of its most valuable servants. He leaves a wife and daughter in England.