The Railway Mission has announced the appointment of Rev’d Mags Farrow as a new Railway Mission Chaplain, bringing extensive experience in chaplaincy, pastoral care, staff wellbeing, education, and community support. 

Rev’d Farrow joins the Railway Mission with more than 13 years of leadership experience in pastoral and community settings, including work in prisons, schools, and churches. Her background includes supporting people through trauma, bereavement, crisis, and major life events, making her well placed to serve the needs of the railway community. 

Most recently, she served as Chaplain at HMP Ashfield, where she provided pastoral support to staff and prisoners and worked as part of a multi-faith team. Her responsibilities included supporting staff following major incidents and deaths in custody, assisting Family Liaison Officers, leading memorial events and funerals, overseeing aspects of staff welfare, and contributing to bereavement support provision. 

This role also involved flexible and on-call working, including responding to urgent situations outside normal hours. 

Before that, Rev’d Farrow spent seven years as a chaplain in an academy setting, supporting staff, children, and families with wellbeing and welfare needs. Her work included one-to-one pastoral support, staff training, and close liaison with senior leaders on welfare matters across the trust. 

Alongside her chaplaincy work, she has held a range of leadership positions in community and voluntary settings, including senior and associate ministry roles and trustee responsibilities. Across these roles she has developed experience in public engagement, volunteer support, partnership working, and strategic leadership. 

Rev’d Farrow holds a BA (Hons) in Theology from the University of Birmingham, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Leeds, and is a Qualified Teacher. She also holds a Practitioner Status Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools and Communities, awarded in 2020. 

She is recognised for her calm and reassuring presence, particularly in demanding situations, and for her ability to build strong, constructive relationships across a wide range of settings. 

Having relocated with her family to South Wales in 2025, Rev’d Farrow now takes up her new role supporting railway staff and others affected by traumatic incidents, bereavement, and the pressures associated with work on the rail network. 

The Railway Mission provides independent pastoral support to people across the rail industry, offering a confidential and compassionate presence to staff, managers, passengers, and families during times of need.