It is the church for the Sande parish which is part of the Nord-Jarlsberg prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

The church is usually dated to between 1050 and 1150, or more precisely it is said to be built near the end of Olav Kyrre's time (1066–1093).

After the fire, all that was left were the exterior stone walls, the baptismal font, some church silver from the altar, the altarpiece's two paintings, and a priest's chasuble.

Over the next several years, the rubble was cleared and the church was rebuilt, re-using the old stone walls.

As part of the rebuilding effort, a new wooden bell tower and church porch was constructed on the west end of the nave.