Kjøllefjord was completely burnt down when the occupying forces retreated during the autumn of 1944. The whole population of about 700 people were evacuated and dispersed all over the country. However, after the liberation most of them returned home. The first phase of the reconstruction period was focused on temporary installations, secondly new local plans were worked out and then permanent buildings and infrastructure were built. It became clear early on that the new church should not be built on the old church's site by the beach, where it had stood since 1738. The new site was chosen on the hillside away from the seafront.