It is one of the five churches for the Austevoll parish which is part of the Fana prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

According to the Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar, King Håkon is said to have rowed out to the island of Sandtorv and held a mass there in 1240.

The church at Austevollshella was in use for over 200 years, giving name to the parish of Austevoll, which in turn gave name to the municipality in 1886.

[6][5] The church building was owned by the King until 1724 when it was sold to Bent Uldrich for 70 rigsdaler.

Some items from the medieval Sandtorv church, including the shrine, are still in existence to this day and they are currently in custody of the Bergen Museum.