The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1843 using plans drawn up by the architect Anders Thorsen Syrtveit who based the design off standard church plans made by Hans Linstow.

Legend states that the first church in Fyresdal was built during the 13th century on a site called Røykenes, about 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the west across the lake Fyresvatnet from the present location.

The new building was a wooden cruciform church which was described by procurator Jonas Lund as "the most beautiful in Upper Telemark".

[7][9] In the summer of 1835, the church was damaged in a storm from the north-west, locally called "Jordalsvinden".

Because of great poverty in the parish during these years, it took time to raise the money for a new church, so the new building was not constructed until 1843.

Bishop Jacob von der Lippe consecrated the church on 2 July 1843.