It is one of the two churches for the Froland parish which is part of the Arendal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.
[1][2][3] The earliest existing historical records of the parish date back to the year 1399 and the earliest existing records of the church are from 1425 as the "Frodelands Sogn i Nidardal", however the church was likely founded during the late 13th or early 14th century (before the Black Death in Norway).
However, Bishop Jens Bircherod would not allow the church to be torn down before the financing for the new was in order.
During the demolition of the old church 1715, old idols were found which were thrown into the nearby river.
After World War II, a complete restoration of the church was carried out.