It is the church for the Vanylven parish which is part of the Søre Sunnmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

The white, plastered brick church was built in a rectangular design in 1864 using plans drawn up by the architect Georg Andreas Bull.

A law passed in 1851 required the church be able to seat at least 30% of the people living in the parish, so it had to be enlarged or replaced.

Years of debate ensued and eventually it was decided that a new church would be built.

Construction was completed in the fall of 1863, and a number of items were transferred from the old church.