This elevated church rises up over the otherwise low-level reconstruction buildings in Lebesby. After the Second World War, Lebesby lost its status as the centre of the municipality of Kjøllefjord, which had grown considerably in terms of both its communications and with regard to business. This led to the reconstruction work in Kjøllefjord being prioritized ahead of Lebesby

it also affected the rebuilding of the church. For many years, temporary solutions were found for church activities in Lebesby, chiefly using the school premises. As early as March 1946, the municipal priest, Alf Wiig, had formulated a plan for the reconstruction of churches and rectories in Finnmark. The plan took as its starting-point the idea that everything was to be built up again in the
course of a five-year period, but the reconstruction of the churches was not prioritized as fast as Wiig had wished.

Seventeen years after the Second World War, in 1962, the new church at Lebesby was ready for its inauguration. The church architect was Odd Borgrud Pedersen and master builder Mathias Paulen was in charge of the construction. The inauguration was carried out on 22 July 1962 by Bishop Monrad Norderval.