Det er grunn til å tro at den første kirken ble bygd her etter kristningen av Norge på 1100-tallet, og at det kan ha stått et gudehov her tidligere. Det har vært flere kirkebranner, og selve kirketomta er flyttet. Der presteboligen står i dag var det tidligere en kirkegård, og gamle gravstøtter ble funnet der. De eldste er datert til 1200-tallet og er de eldste gravminner i Nord-Norge. Rester av et solkors i kleberstein er funnet, og er det eneste av sitt slag nord for Ålesund. Tilsvarende kors dateres til 1100-tallet. Alle disse står utenfor presteboligen.

Skjerstad church:

The church was inaugurated in 1959, but the first time Skjerstad parish was mentioned was in the year 1390. It is believed that the first church was built here after the christening of Norway in the 12th century, and that there might have been a guild hall for worshiping norse gods here back in pagan time. There has been several church fires here through the history, and the church ground has been moved. Where the rectory is built today, there used to be a graveyard and old tomb stones have been found there. The oldest tomb stones are dated back to around year 1200, and they might be the oldest tomb reminiscents in Northern Norway. Remnants of a swastika has been found, and this is the only one north of Ålesund. Equivialent swastikas are dated to the 12th century. All these reminiscents are on display outside the rectory.