It is one of the two churches for the Risør parish which is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1647 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect.

[1][2] The area of Risør was part of the Søndeled Church parish which was historically an annex of the prestegjeld of Gjerstad.

In 1794, merchant Nils Simonsen and his wife paid for a curved gate to be built in the opening between the choir and the nave.

At the top of the carved gate sat the royal monogram for Christian VII.