It is located on the banks of the Tovdalselva, just outside the village of Ryen in the district of Tveit in the borough of Oddernes in the northeastern part of the city of Kristiansand.

It is the church for the Tveit parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

It is possible that there was a wooden stave church on the site prior to the construction of the stone building.

In 1831, the main entrance with a tower was added and the old entry porch was incorporated into the nave.

In 1867, a wooden addition to the west was added to enlarge the nave even more and provide a new entry porch.