It is one of the churches for the Hitra og Fillan parish which is part of the Orkdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

The red, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1789 using plans drawn up by the architect Fredrich Bertelsen Ødegaard.

The first church for Fillan was located at Ulvan on the island of Ulvøya and it was likely built during the 1200s, before the Black Death in Norway.

[3][4] The population on the island of Hitra greatly increased during the 17th century and towards the end of that century, it was decided to move the Fillan Church site from Ulvan to the village of Fillan on the main island of Hitra about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the southwest.

The church was described by the parish priest, Bang, in 1780 where he wrote that the church was old, low, narrow, and dark, and that the indoor air during the sermons was unbearable because of the many unhealthy fumes from the clothing worn by the local fishermen.