This multi-volume work investigates the historical and hagiographical records of the saints of Britain, seeking to separate verifiable historical fact from centuries of ecclesiastical tradition. The authors, John Fisher and Sabine Baring-Gould, utilize their extensive knowledge of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon history to compile a comprehensive register of religious figures. By cross-referencing ancient manuscripts, liturgical calendars, and local folklore, they establish a rigorous framework for understanding the development of the early British church.

The subject matter points to a dense, scholarly reference work intended for historians, theologians, and researchers of early medieval Britain. Its exhaustive approach to hagiographical data makes it a foundational text for those studying the intersection of religious tradition and historical record in the British Isles.