Lesnewth is a small (2024 acres) rural parish, thinly populated - in 1801 there were 104 persons, this rose to 129 in 1871 but by 1991 there were only 70 people. The church (OS Grid reference SX1390) lies in a dip with a road at roof level closeby on the north. A fast flowing stream runs next to the church. In the great Boscastle flood of 2004 this stream became a roaring torrent and damage to headstones and the churchyard cross was only just avoided, although the footbridge across the stream was swept away. Originally in Camelford Registration District, the parish now lies within Bodmin Registration District.

It is believed that the first church on this site was built by the Saxons in a dip so that it could not be spied by pillaging Danes from the coast, a strategy that failed as it was sacked. Before 1866 the church was a Norman cruciform building, said to be of great interest, with a fifteenth century tower. The old church apparently had an interesting chapel 9 feet by 7 ½ feet, between the chancel and south transept, while the Norman alter slab was in situ in the north transept. The screen, though decayed, was standing, and the old roofs were particularly good. It was then rebuilt on a new plan. However, it had been neglected and was in a very dilapidated condition and the architect J. P. St Aubyn was given reign, in 1866, to rebuild. The parish registers do indicate that the church may not have been completely neglected, an entry notes that the trees and shrubs in the churchyard were planted about the year 1850, by the stipendiary curate Rev. G. W. Manning (who later became the Rector of St. Petrock Minor). Cox states that St Aubyn “grievously deformed” the church, but on the contrary Polsue believed that the characteristics of the old church were “carefully preserved.” Dynamite was used as a demolition aid and old bits of the church may be seen around the churchyard - some even having been incorporated into a churchyard memorial (see Ref. 47). It is probable that St Aubyn destroyed memorials in pursuing his ignorant restoration. The Norman alter slab is now part of the sill of the north window, the font was saved as was the fifteenth century tower. The church, whose patron was originally St Knuet, is now dedicated to St Michael and All Angels.

The survey by CIP was carried out in September, 2004. Eighty eight memorials were found, in addition Maclean recorded a headstone in 1873 which was not found during the CIP survey but which has been included in our records.