The parish of Eidfjord was transferred to the neighboring Diocese of Bjørgvin in 1630.

[1] In 1682 Christian V, King of Denmark-Norway, issued an order that the Bishop and the Prefect of the Diocese of Stavanger were to be moved to the Christianssand Cathedral, which had been consecrated in 1646 and which the King intended be perfect site for a new cathedral.

The citizens of Stavanger protested, with the Prefect and the Bishop refusing to move and ignoring the order.

In 1682, there was a small church built of wood on site in Kristiansand.

A new cathedral was built of stone and consecrated by Bishop Hans Munch in 1696, but burned down in 1734.

The church was consecrated on 18 March 1885 with Johan M. Brun as acting bishop.

[3] The diocese is administratively divided into 9 deaneries spread out over two counties.