It is the former main church for the Inderøy parish which is part of the Stiklestad prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

At the end of the 18th century, an inscription was found in the building that stated that the church was consecrated in 1184 by Eysteinn Erlendsson, Archbishop of the Diocese of Nidaros.

It is Romanesque in design and has rounded portals to the south, west and north.

[7][8][9][5] It has been suggested that the carving of a woman in the church is one of three alleged examples of sheela na gig in Norway, the others being at Trondheim and Stiklestad; but the Sakshaug carving is "somewhat suspect as it appears to be more of a pine cone than sheela na gig.

The wood roof, tower, decor, and other woodwork were removed and sold.

The ownership of the church was transferred to the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments in 1873.

Work continued over the years, being finally completed in 1958 when the historic church was re-consecrated.