It is one of the four churches for the Knarvik parish which is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

[1][2] The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1360, but it was likely built before that time.

(An alternate theory is that in 1610, the old stave church was renovated and enlarged that year, since the new building was about twice as large as the old one.

The new church would be built a little closer to the village of Seim, about 500 metres (1,600 ft) to the northwest.

The construction work was led by Mons N. Skare and Ole Knudsen Lilleokse.