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The Little Church on the Hill

By Charles Jewell

1981

In the year 1260 it was rumoured that in a little known hamlet there had been a Christian community practising their faith. Now these good people, although few in number decided to make contact with the larger community of the church of St. John, and also the Resident Bishop of Llandaff, whereby, together they would build a small country church.

Mr and Mrs Charles and Phyllis Jewell, taken outside St Mary's Church in 1965 on the occasion on their daughter Jean's wedding. By kind permission of Jean Evans.

It would be hard to visualise the great task being undertaken at that time, for the site chosen was in a small field high up on a steep hill, overlooking the distant countryside now known as the "Vale of Glamorgan". The church itself would be of stone, and one should imagine the roof of thatch. "How did these good people tackle the transportation of material required up so steep a hill?" "Where to obtain the many tons of stone, timber and mortar required?" And most important, the skills and labour needed to complete the task. There surely must have been talk of finance - "How much will it cost?" and above all else "Will this project be worth the effort and time?"

The decision was made to build. It would be worth the effort - the problems would be overcome, and when completed this little church would be consecrated to God's glory and called "Saint Mary's Caerau" and the good people though few in number would look on it with pride, and know deep in their hearts that their little church would withstand any future natural elements, and would also provide for the future religious comforts of people throughout the centuries.

You can read the rest of Charles Jewell's account in our book.