It is the main church for the Gimsøy og Strauman parish which is part of the Lofoten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

The church was originally located about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) to the northwest in the village of Vinje.

It was a small cruciform log building with a tower over the central part of the roof.

In the year 1800, a new church was built about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) to the southeast, along the shore of the island.

It would be a long church in timber with a sacristy next to the choir in the east and an entry porch and tower on the west end of the building.