Кентерберилік Ричард Калмер: Пуритан дін қызметкері және иконалық күрескер

The Most Reverend Canon Richard Culmer of Canterbury (1597–1662) 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 family 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.

Culmer was 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 a Katherine Johnson from Ringwould (near Deal) 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; he preferred blue instead, as it "had more joy". He 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. Culmer 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. On account of these attacks, he soon required Cromwell's soldiers to protect him while he carried out his task. 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 that book were used in Laud's trial for treason, in 1644. At the end of 1644, Culmer was appointed as one of six preachers at Canterbury Cathedral and the office as curate of Canterbury. In 1645, in return for his services to Parliament, he was offered the living of the parish of Minster in Thanet. At his ordination for that post, his parishioners locked the church against him, and when he attempted to break into the church he was mobbed and beaten. He was so despised that the parish refused to pay tithes to support him, but then offered to pay his arrears if he would go away. To this day, his name does not appear in the list of incumbents displayed in the church porch. He served as acting Dean of Rochester before his exit from the public eye. He later found himself under arrest in London, and, when asked why he had destroyed the figure of Christ in the Canterbury Cathedral windows and not that of the Devil, he merely replied that Parliament's orders were for the removal of images of Christ and made no reference to Satan. Among his few critics was Henry De Forte, who argued that art expressed religious emotion. It is recorded that Culmer's attitude changed towards religious art and spiritualism. Described as "odious for his zeal and fury", Culmer survived in his position until 1660, shortly before the Restoration of Charles II. He then moved to Monkton, where he died at the Parsonage House on 20 March 1662, and was buried two days later in the parish church of Monkton, on the Isle of Thanet.

Blue Richard Culmer appears as a supporting character in Jeff Guinn's novel The Christmas Chronicles.