The Five parishes of St Anthony, Manaccan, St Martin, St Mawgan and Keverne form that part of the Lizard Peninsula known as the Meneage, "the land of Monks".
Dedication-St Manacca pictured in the window in the Kestle Aisle is almost certainly invented. But Cox County Churches in Cornwall gives St Menaccus and St Dunston there are two other churches in Cornwall with the same double dedication that of Lanlivery and Lanreath. If this is so it would seem the name of St Dunston was added to that of Menaccus in Norman times.
On the other hand , in the Cornish language "Managh" means "Monk", and "an"means "the"; thus Manaccan may mean simply "The Monk."
In a field at Tregonwell remains of an old chapel are marked on the Ordnance map; this may once of been a cell of a hermit who brought the gospel to the district. perhaps this monk, whose name is unknown was the original patron saint of Manaccan.
The south transept is known as the Kestle Aisle, from the ancient Mansion of Kestle, or Kestell in the parish. The arms of the Kestel family are Three Castles gules can be seen in the south window of the aisle.
967-The first mention of Mannacan occurs in a Charter of King Eadger. There it is called Lesmanoc "Place of the Monks". The church itself was called a Minster down to the time of King Henry VI. There is an old house in the village called Minster Farm.
1300`s -The Norman's built a cruciform church of which considerable parts of the walls of the chancel and south transept, and the south wall of the nave remain today.
The piscina, it is understood, was originally in the chapel of the Manor of Trewothack, in the parish of St Anthony-in- Meneage, and was brought to Mannacan during the 19th century when the chapel and manor had fallen into ruins.
The Hagioscope, or Squint in the angle between the chancel and the transept. was originally a passage such as may still be seen in the neighbouring churches of St Mawgan and Cury.
1500's-The two stage tower was begun.
1600's-The battlements on the tower were completed.