The first place of worship in the fishing village of Mehamn was a gift from a pioneer of sealing and whaling, Svein Foyn (1809-1894). He had the site measured out and the foundation wall for a meeting house chapel built in 1886. This was completed in 1887, and during a hectic spring season the meeting house chapel was in frequent use. Svein Foyn held meetings himself during periods when he was living in the fishing village, whilst in other years he paid for the preachers. His original idea was to present the site to the fishermen. Following the Mehamn riot during the 1880s, the notion of such a transfer was shelved. The background to the riot was that the spring cod fishing had failed for several years in a row and the fishermen were certain that the reason for this was Foyn's culling of whales.

Following his death, the meeting house chapel was nonetheless handed over to the population by his widow, on condition that it should be used only for Christian gatherings and as a school. The old meeting house chapel was felt to be rather on the small side as the years went by, and a chapel association was appointed with the primary aim of rebuilding the meeting house chapel. The new chapel was consecrated in 1931. It was burnt down, together with all the other buildings, on 6 November 1944.

When the chapel was due to be rebuilt, there was a strong desire on the part of the parish council that Foyn's memory should be honoured and preserved for future generations. In answer to an appeal, the building committee was sent a relief that was 85 cm x 55 cm in size, created by the sculptor Ørnulf Bast in Oslo. The motif is Jesus walking on the water and Peter sinking. On a copper plate attached to it is written "Gave fra Sven Foyn og Hustrus Missionsfond 1964" ("a gift from Sven Foyn and the Women's Institute's fund, 1964"). The relief hangs in the entrance porch, together with a portrait of Foyn and his wife.