This parish is very large ((9,634 acres) stretches from near Lanhydrock park in the south to a point 5 miles north of Bodmin on the A30 road. This includes much of the lovely wooded Glynn Valley and the high moorlands above it. The name is Celtic "caer" is "camp" and "dinan" a "fortress". This shows that there was a fortified castle here well over 1,000 years ago, when Cornwall was an independent kingdom. there are several ancient inscribed stones in the parish, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries, when Christianity first came to Cornwall. In the sedilia (the recesses on the south side of the chancel) are some very ancient inscribed stones, with beautifully written Latin fragments.
The site of Cardynham Castle is on high ground to the south of the church; the castle was built soon after the Norman Conquest, probably by Richard Fitz Turold, whose family called "de Cardinan" after their dwelling place, lived here for 200 years after that. the shape of the castle can still be seen, but no ruins remain.
The oratory founded by St Meubred was no doubt altered and enlarged over the centuries many times.
Towards the end of the 15th century all the previous building was demolished and the very fine present church built in its place. Unlike other ancient churches which have grown and changed over the centuries. Only the font, the Easter Sepulchre and various stones remain of the previous buildings.
There are 71 bench ends dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. There are many dolphins and some human heads.
The original wagon roofs remain in the aisles, though that of the nave has been replaced.
1356-1401- The rector was Thomas Awmarle and there is a brass in memory of him south of the altar, in the floor. Upon which is a Latin inscription which may be partly translated as follows "I pray you , brethren, pray for me, and I will do my best to pray for you".
1661- The Royal Arms and the Kings "Letter of Thanks" above the north door are reminders of the very close involvement of this part of Cornwall with the cause of King Charles I in the Civil War. Among other activities, he placed cannons on the hills to the south to cover the road from Liskeard.
1699-There is an ornate and colourful memorial to the Glynn family (who lived in the large house of that name).
1777-There is a brass memorial behind the organ of this date.
The last war a "near-miss" by a bomb in the road wall outside the east end damaged the windows in the chancel. There is now very good modern glass in these windows; in that on the north side, note that the adults are dressed in the costumes of the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, while the two children are modern. There are pictures of the church and cross. There is a "St Francis" widow in the south aisle.
Note.
The parish stocks are in the porch.
In the churchyard are two fine old crosses. That outside of the south porch has been called one of the best in Cornwall. There is excellent knotwork, and scrolls and plaitwork. the date is about the ninth century; that is in the time of King Alfred.