It is the church for the Tønjum parish which is part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

The red, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1832 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect.

[6][8] On 12 January 1823, the old church was heavily damaged by the wind during a big winter storm and it had to be torn down.

This situation did not resolve until after Daae's death in 1831 when the local people got their wish to rebuild at Tønjum.

Not much is known about the architect of the church, but it was supposedly a man named Tøger from Hatlo.