It is the church for the Sannidal parish which is part of the Bamble prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1772 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect.

The location of the church is notable since in pre-Christian times, before the years 1000–1100 in Norway, the place was used as a site for worshiping the old Norse gods.

It houses a grave plate cast at Mørland foundry in Kjølebrønd, in olden times a very busy place, south along the Kilsfjord.

The pulpit was donated by Knut Knutsen Dobbe and made in the early 19th century in a late Louis XVI style modeled along antique ideas.

Next to the pulpit and the reader's chair there are two Gothic style two-armed candlestick holders going back to the 15th century.

The silver and Eucharist vessels on the altar also date back to the stave church and were given as gifts in the beginning of the 18th century.

The storage case for the Eucharist bread was a gift from the skipper and the owner of the skip Patriarchen Jacob in thanks to God for intervening and saving the ship off the coast of Holland in 1703.

A wine mug in silver was given in 1708 by skipper Olle Nielsøn and both his sons Niels and Jon Olesøn together with seven others.

The intention was "to honour God and for beautifying of the altar in Sannidal church", according to the Norwegian engraved on it.

The altar piece showing the crucifixion of Christ comes from the old "Christi kirke" in Kragerø dismantled in 1870.

A Frederik II edition Bible, printed in Copenhagen in 1589 lies on the altar, donated by Nils Jensen Farsjø.

The eye on the top of the altarpiece is decorated with painted cherubs and radiating light; it probably also comes from the old "Christi kirke".

Confirmation is one of the main family gatherings and is a big feast day on the church calendar at the beginning of May.

It is used for Christian meetings as well as a place for family gatherings after important church functions such as confirmations, weddings, christenings and burials.