It is located in the village of Oppstryn, on the shore of the lake Oppstrynsvatnet.

It is the church for the Oppstryn parish which is part of the Nordfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

During the winter of 1662–1663, an avalanche off the nearby mountain pushed part of the church down the hill into the lake Oppstrynsvatnet.

So, the new church was constructed at Fosnes, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the southeast in the village of Oppstryn.

The new building was a wooden long church that was designed by Hans Linstow.