It is located in the village of Østby, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the border with Sweden.

It is the church for the Østby parish which is part of the Sør-Østerdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1940 using plans drawn up by the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property.

[1][2] The church was originally built as an annex chapel.

The Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property designed the building.