The first church on the site was built in the 3rd or 5th century, and the baptistery from this church was found during excavations, situated underneath the present Chapel of Relics. A house from the Imperial era was also found, and tradition claims that the church was built over the house in which St Cecilia lived. This house was one of the tituli, the first parish churches of Rome, known as the titulus Ceciliae. The church was rebuilt by Pope Paschal I (817-824). At that time, the martyr's remains were brought from the catacombs of St Calixtus. The present church is a result of 18th century rebuilding, performed on orders from the titular of the church, Cardinal Francesco Acquaviva. Some older elements were preserved.