It is the church for the Øystese parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1868 using plans drawn up by the architect C. Erichsen in consultation with Jacob Wilhelm Nordan.

[1][2] The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1300, and it was relatively new at that time.

It was located about 400 metres (0.25 mi) to the northwest of the present site of the church.

[3][4][5] Even after the repairs of the church, the centuries-old building was still in poor condition.