The white, wooden church was built in a octagonal design in 1854 using plans drawn up by the architect Christian Heinrich Grosch.

In 1520 during the reign of King Christian II of Denmark-Norway, bandits sailed into the harbour and set fire to the church.

During the 18th century, it was converted into a cruciform design by additions built to the north and the south of the nave.

In 1854, the old church was torn down and replaced with a new building that has an octagonal design.

Each church parish was a constituency that elected people called "electors" who later met together in each county to elect the representatives for the assembly that was to meet in Eidsvoll later that year.