It is one of the churches for the Tjøtta parish which is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

The white, wooden church was built in a long church style in 1889 using plans drawn up by the architect Nils Kristian Andersen.

Nils Kristian Andersen from Tjøtta was hired as the builder with the completion deadline of August 1889.

The parish decided that the church would have 11 worship services each year (roughly once per month).

By the late 20th century, the population in Skålvær had declined significantly and most of the homes on the island are now used only as holiday cottages, so the church has been taken out of regular use.