The ruins of the church stand on the site of
Caerau Hillfort on a natural plateau at the
Caerau end of a hill range extending from
Leckwith to Caerau. The church is first mentioned in the
Taxatio Ecclesiasticus of
Pope Nicholas IV in 1291 and was probably built in 1260. Since then it has undergone many repairs and alterations. It was substantially rebuilt by the Rev Victor Jones in 1960-61. In 1973 it was closed and deconsecrated and has subsequently deteriorated into a ruin due to continuous vandalism. Since 1999 a group of former and current parishioners, the Friends of St Mary’s Church at Caerau, have been campaigning to preserve and commemorate the remains of the church.
Archaeologia Cambrensis in 1901 describes its 1848 state as follows: The building became Grade II
listed in 1980. ==References==