The white, wooden church was built in a octagonal design in 1844 by Anders Thorsen Syrtveit who used plans drawn up by the famous architect Hans Linstow.

The church was originally built (probably in the 14th century) on the shore of the Byglandsfjorden in the village of Sandnes.

[3] In 1935, the church was disassembled at its historic site in Sandnes and moved to the more populous village of Åraksbø, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the north, where it was reconstructed.

The move had been contemplated for over 40 years since Åraksbø is where almost all the residents of the parish lived.

As a way of smoothing things over, a small chapel was built on the site in Sandnes where the church once stood.