It is the church for the Stangvik parish which is part of the Indre Nordmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

The church was richly decorated and was probably consecrated to either St. Olaf or the Virgin Mary.

On 27 November 1783, lightning struck the church which started a fire that burned down the church and surrounding rectory buildings and unfortunately a maid in the rectory was killed in the fire.

The church was designed by Karl Norum and the lead builder was Lars O. Mogstad.

Some materials from the 1784 cruciform church were reused in the new building, primarily in the tower.