It is one of the churches for the Nordkapp parish which is part of the Hammerfest prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

In 1810, the English navy held a blockade around the area and during the fighting that ensued, the church was significantly damaged.

[3] After this, it was decided to build the replacement church in the nearby village of Honningsvåg instead of in Kjelvik because that area was more easily accessible and was closer to the population of the municipality.

[4] This is one of the few churches in Finnmark county that was not destroyed or burned at the end of World War II during the retreat of the German forces.

After the war, the church became home for the local population while the remaining buildings were reconstructed.