The Church is dedicated to St Issey (or Itha or Ida). Abbess who was born in Ireland around 480 AD. She was Baptised by Dairdre.
The First church at St Issey was some when during the 7th or 8th Century.
1190 The bishop of Exeter gave the patronage of the church to the dean and chapter of Exeter Cathedral. The parish at this time was known as Eglos - cruck or church on the mound.
1390 the chancel was repaired
1400 around this time from a local workshop, was produced carvings in grey blue elvan. The reredos consists of parts patiently pieced together. of a noble 15th century monument.
1664 The font was restored to use after ejection of the puritans. The font is a late Norman circular font on four small pillars.
1869 February 1st, the tower of the church fell, taking a portion of the nave and the whole of the gallery.
1870/1 the church was re built and consecrated in 1871 by the bishop of Exeter. It then consisted of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and the new west tower. The old building remained in the 14th century north arcade and vestry window, the 15th century west door and the 16th century south arcade and doorway.
St Issey, about 5 miles north of St Columb. The principal hamlets of the parish, apart from Churchtown, are Tredinnick, Trenance and Trevance. The manor of Canalissey or Cannalidgee belonged for many years to the family of Coleshill, Halwyn, now called Old Town was formerly a manor on which was the magnificent seat of the Champernowns. The site of the barton, where there are still to be seen (1814) ruins of the manor house and of a chapel, passed to three gentlemen who also possessed the manor of Tregenna which once belonged to the Arundells.