On either side of the choir arch is an alcove for a side altar, and the eastern one has a small peephole. The alcoves are three-clover-leaf shaped, indicating the influence of a Gothic style. This was also the case with the decoration of the western doorway, which was removed in 1866. The doorway itself had a rounded arch in the Roman style, while decorated with early Gothic elements, such as "houndstooth". The expression "blandingstil" (hybrid) is applicable to church architecture in Norway from the early thirteenth century, during the transition between Roman and Gothic styles.

Dønnes Church dates from the early thirteenth century. At this time, one of King Håkon Håkonsønn's feudal landowners, Pål Vågaskalm, lived at Dønnes. He died in 1245 and the church may have been built by then, in which case he would have been buried in the burial vault under the choir.