The first church in Vågåmo was a wooden stave church that was built during the middle of the 12th century, possibly around the year 1150. The building had a rectangular nave and a narrower, rectangular chancel. It was originally dedicated to St. Peter. The prior rectory was formerly called Ullinsyn. The older name of the site may show that even in pagan times, the location had been in use for worship.[3][4]
In 1625–1627, the old church was completely rebuilt as a wooden cruciform church. The salvageable materials from the old church were reused in the construction of the new church on the same site. Only the carved portals and decorative wall planks survived from the original stave church. The basic architectural plan is a Latin cross. Above the crossing is a turret with a high tower helmet and four small side towers, a legacy from the Gothic tower architecture. The conversion was under the direction of Werner Olsen (ca. 1600–1682), who was also known as Werner Olsen Skurdal after the last of his residence. He was noted as a church and tower builder. He later worked on remodels to Lom Stave Church and Ringebu Stave Church.[4][5][6]
In 1814, this church served as an election church (Norwegian: valgkirke).[7][8] Together with more than 300 other parish churches across Norway, it was a polling station for elections to the 1814 Norwegian Constituent Assembly which wrote the Constitution of Norway. This was Norway's first national elections. Each church parish was a constituency that elected people called "electors" who later met together in each county to elect the representatives for the assembly that was to meet in Eidsvoll later that year.[7][9]
The crucifix at Vågå church is early Gothic work, dating from the mid-13th century. The pulpit dates from the completion of the church around 1630. The sacristy, constructed of shaped logs, was built during in the 1660s. The altarpiece is from 1674 and the altar rail dates from 1758.[4][5]
Jo Gjende, who was born in Vågå, was buried in Vågå churchyard. On his grave is a small soapstone monument, which shows a wild reindeer herd in flight, after a painting by Gerhard Munthe.[10]
