The oldest of four children, Pastor Chris Farrow was born in a small farming community in south-central Wisconsin. Upon graduation from high school, she spent a year in Dortmund, Germany as a governess. She then attended Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, from which she graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, with majors in Psychology, Sociology, and German. She spent her junior year abroad, studying at Phillips Universitaet in Marburg, Germany.

She graduated from Luther (Northwestern) Seminary in 1990. Her internship site was Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, Iowa. She served Metigoshe Lutheran Church in Bottineau, North Dakota from 1990-1992.

Pastor Chris began serving here at St. Paul's on August 1, 1999. She enjoys playing sports, especially volleyball. She also likes to bake, read, and keep current on her German. She is married to Al, Deputy Public Works Officer at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. They have two children, Katie, 10, and Brian, 9.

Pastor Chris is active in synodical work.  She is a member on the Committee on Discipline and participates in synodical youth retreats. She is active in community work as well. She is a part of RAMA (Riverdale Area Ministries Alliance), an on-call Lutheran pastor at Sentara Careplex hospital, on call chaplain for Parklawn Wood Funeral home, has received emergency crisis training from the Red Cross, and is also a member of the Disabilities Alliance which includes the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities .

Her ministry took on a global aspect in the summer of 2004 when she participated in the Wittenberg English Ministry in Wittenberg Germany. As "Pastor in Residence" she spent two weeks tending to the spiritual needs of tourists and townsfolk alike. She preached in the Castle Church (where the 95 Theses were nailed) and the City Church (where Dr. Martin Luther pastored).