It is the church for the Ulvik parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1859 using plans drawn up by the architect Hans Linstow.

Some parts of the original church, including the gate posts and antependium from the front of the altar are now at the Historical Museum in Bergen.

A copy of this antependium (which is considered one of the great works of Norwegian medieval art) hangs today in the present church.

[6][8] By the 1850s, a report shows that the chancel and tower were both in such poor condition that the church urgently needed repairs or replacement.

The site of the old church remained as a cemetery for many years into the 20th century before being redone as a memorial grove as it is today.