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

[1][2] Planning for a new church in the village of Deset to serve the northwestern part of the municipality, along the Rena river valley began in the 1860s when permission to build the church was granted.

The Danish-born architect Johan Henrik Nebelong was hired to design the church.

The church was rebuilt and restored in 1903, under the direction of an architect named Braaten.

On that occasion, the chancel vault was restored and regained its blue sky with shining stars.