The Most Reverend Canon Richard Culmer of Canterbury (1597–1662)B.A M.A Ddiv was an English Puritan clergyman. iconoclast and Theologian. He is listed by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as being of unknown parentage, although some sources indicate that he was the eldest son of Sir Henry Culmer (c. 1574-1633), the first Baron Culmer. According to this tree, Sir Henry, himself a son of a Henry Culmer, had married Mary Baldwyn of Kent in 1602, and was created a Baron by King Charles I in 1630, although this is not listed in Burke's Peerage his family was of considerable importance. Biography Culmer had been educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge; he matriculated as Sizar in 1613, B.A. Theology in 1618, and M.A. Th (Ox). in 1621. He was ordained in the Diocese of Peterborough that September, and then returned to Kent, marrying Katherine Johnson in 1624. He then established himself as a Puritan Minister of some note. He was generally known in Kent as "Blue Dick Culmer" on account of his refusing to wear the usual black gown of a cleric, preferring blue as it was 'had more joy'.And later was appointed Academic Dean of Divinity at Cambridge University. He was suspended in 1635, and restored to the clergy in 1638, being appointed as a curate in the Parish of Harbledown. In 1643 Culmer was considered for the living of the parish of Chartham. As a general serving under Oliver Cromwell he became quite notorious, so disliked that the parishioners of Harbledown objected, that so long as it was not Culmer they cared not who ministered unto them. This view prevailed and another person was appointed, with Culmer being appointed to the Commission for the "Blessed Reformation", the demolition of "superstitious" (High Church) monuments and "idols", including the purge of Canterbury Cathedral. Already disliked, he delighted in his promotion as a Commissioner, and set about his task at Canterbury with enthusiasm, so much so that his parishioners would openly flock to attack him, to the extent that soon he had to carry out his task with Cromwell's soldiers to protect him. He was known to have despised William Laud, who had him committed to the Fleet for refusing to read the Declaration of Sports after his services in Church, and his objections to the book were used in Laud's trial for treason, in 1644. At the end of 1644, he was