It is one of the three churches for the Hyllestad parish which is part of the Sunnfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Legend has it that Olav Kyrre may have built a church here in the 11th century, but there is no evidence to prove this.

[3][4][5] By the mid- to late-1800s, the space at the old church site and cemetery was too small and could not be expanded.

The old church was torn down and the cemetery and stone fence that encircled the yard were left in place, but it was no longer used.

It was designed by Henrik Nissen and the lead builder was John Alver.