 Northey became the vicar at Rickmansworth in 1884 and remained there until 1898 when he retired; he was also rural dean of Watford from 1896.After retirement, he briefly acted as a chaplain in Tangier, Morocco and after settling in Devon was a licensed priest in the diocese of Exeter, though without an incumbency.As a student to 1861 Northey was a captain in the 3rd Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteers, part of the Volunteer Force.