[1][2] The stave church is assumed to have been built around the year 1130 and still stands at its original location.

The replica church is part of a larger complex that includes a museum and Scandinavian heritage center.

In 1982, archaeological evidence was found showing post holes for the large staves that support the idea of a previous church on the site.

[4][5] The medieval timbers of the church bear a significant number of graffiti, carved in runes.

There are no known images of the interior from this time, but a story written by the priest Niels Dahl, who is assumed to have visited the church in 1824, describes the interior: The church has galleries at three levels around all of the walls, that the church [had a rundt alle veggene og at den var lavloftet og tømret] with staircases up to the galleries.

And the walls are painted by numerous quotes from the Holy Scripture in vivid colours.

The issue was first raised by the local parish priest Jørgen Christian Andreas Grøner who complained about the size of the two churches.

Soon after, the local priest decided to no longer hold services at the Hopperstad Stave Church since it was so cold and drafty.

During the reconstruction, the nave and choir were left alone and the apse, corridors, and roof were all rebuilt.

[7] The church contains an altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and 14th-century ciborium with a baldachin on the north side.

The ciborium has four sculptured heads, that of Christ with a halo, a queen, a king, and a monk.