He was born at Warpke manor in Schnega, a member of the elder "white" line of the extensive noble von der Schulenburg family.
The canons borrowed this money from Nicholaus Bardewik, a mayor of Lübeck, and secured the loan with a part of the chapter's territory.
An army led by George of Holle from Brunswick recaptured the bishop's seat Stove Castle in Carlow for Christoph.
Peace returned to the bishopric after the dukes Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Henry V of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel concluded a treaty in Lüneburg on 7 June 1554.
He married Anna, a daughter of Otto von Estorff, at St. Mary's church in Veerßen (today part of Uelzen) on 24 January 1555.