Christopher was the son of William Barker of Stokesley in the North Riding of Yorkshire (now North Yorkshire) and his wife, Joan, the daughter of William Carhill and sister of Sir Christopher Carhill, Norrey King of Arms.
Barker started his heraldic career as Charles Brandon's private officer of arms.
As Garter King of Arms, Barker helped to organize ceremonies such as the christening of Prince Edward in 1537, the funeral of Queen Jane Seymour in the same year, the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland in 1541, and the funeral of Henry and the coronation of Edward in 1547.
His second wife, Ellen, was Henry Rigby's widow and daughter of Richard Dalton of Croston, Lancashire.
Barker was recorded as lying sick at Christmas 1549 and died at Paternoster Row in London on 4 January 1550.