It is the church for the Søndeled parish which is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

The white, stone and wood church was built in a cruciform design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect.

The saga of Olav Trygvasson talks about a church in Søndelef in Visedal an old name for the prestegjeld of Gjerstad.

The large parish of Søndeled was split into two parts and a new church was built in Frydendal, just outside the town of Risør.

The King sold the church to raise money to pay off his war debts.