John Edwin Culmer was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas in 1891. He migrated to the United States in 1911 and settled in the Coconut Grove area. After receiving his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1919 form Bishop Payne Divinity School in Petersburg, Virginia, Father Culmer served at a church in Tampa for 10 years.

In September 1929, Mr. Culmer returned to Miami as priest-in-charge of St. Agnes’ Episcopal Church. He was rector of the parish for 34 years. As rector, he completed the construction of the church’s edifice in its current location, which included the installation of a Moller pipe organ and a marble-finished alter. He also cleared the church’s debt.

Father Culmer was the first African-American to be appointed Archdeacon of the Diocese of South Florida-a position he held for 20 years. In 1943, he was the first  African-American priest to be elected to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and was subsequently elected on three more occasions. During his tenure, St. Agnes’ Episcopal Church became the largest Episcopal congregation in the South and the third largest for African-American in the nation.

Father Culmer’s civic accomplishments were equally notable. He led the fight for better housing and sanitation for the city’s African- Americans. He was largely responsible for an expose in The Miami Herald which led to government funding of a million-dollar project known as Liberty Square.

Father Culmer’s commitment to the clergy and the community led to two honorary degrees, a Doctor of Law from Bethune-Cookman College and a Doctor of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary.

In addition to his numerous religious and civic activities, Father Culmer also authored several books and was a columnist for The Miami Times.

John E. Culmer married the former Leome Scavella and had five children. He remained an influential leader in the community until his death in 1963.