From Irish and Scottish books on architecture and Irish and Scottish archaeological writings in general, one is apt to take a very erroneous impression concerning the ancient ecclesiastical buildings of these two countries. This impression is not, of course, deliberately produced by the writers responsible for the literature spoken of; but it is apt to form in the ‘average reader’s’ mind, nevertheless, and to tincture all his thoughts and comments that have to do with this subject. The matter turns on the employment of the word ‘primitive’ to describe the type of stone building associated with the planters of Christianity in Ireland and Scotland. The use of this word in connection with these structures is quite correct, but the circumstances under which it has become so ought to be explained to the lay reader, who, without any such explanation, and so far as my observation extends none gives it, is apt to draw very erroneous conclusions touching these same ‘primitive’ ecclesiastical erections.