The municipal council appointed a church committee to oversee the building of a new church in 1857. The old church, dating from 1656, stood on the eastern bank of the river at Saltnes, whereas the new one was positioned on Rognan on the western side. In 1859, the designs for the new church were approved by the municipal council, and the foundation stone was laid in 1862. In 1864, the church was ready to be consecrated and used, but it was several more years before the painting and decoration were finished.