It is located in the village of Vats at the southern end of the lake Vatsvatnet.

It is the church for the Vats parish which is part of the Haugaland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.

[1][2] The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1319, but the baptismal font is dated back to the 12th century, so the church was likely built around that time.

(Some sources say that instead of a renovation, the church was torn down and rebuilt on the same site.)

In 1855, a new timber-framed church was constructed about 8 metres (26 ft) south of the old building.