This work falls into two parts. In the first, the author undertakes a summary of his ecclesiastical geological research of thirty years and in the second part this information is applied to a number of early churches in Ireland. Chapters 1 and 2 examine the characteristics of stone emplacement as they apply in particular to the Anglo-Saxon churches of England. They illustrate how the craftsmen of this period used stone in certain structural features of their ecclesiastical buildings in distinctive styles, and how these styles may be distinguished from the work of the Norman or 'Romanesque'...

This work follows the study of the ecclesiastical geology of almost all Anglo-Saxon religious sites throughout England. There, it proved possible to both understand and distinguish clearly obvious patterns in the use of stonework, to determine the use and value of specific rock types, and to illustrate diagnostic features which could be used to identify building of that period. Subsequent studies of ecclesiastical sites, in Scotland and the Scottish Islands, the Isle of Man and Ireland expanded the value of the English studies by revealing closely analogous examples of the same indicative...

This work follows the rapid survey of the ecclesiastical geology of the stonework of known Anglo-Saxon churches throughout England undertaken by the author a decade ago. From that brief study it proved possible to both understand and distinguish clearly obvious patterns in the use of the stonework. Furthermore, the use and value of specific rock types were determined and diagnostic features which could be used to identify buildings of the period were described. Subsequent, more widespread published studies in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, expanded the English studies by revealing closely...