The chapel was built by fishermen from Barsta, including seasonal fishermen who travelled from Gävle, at the initiative of Nordingrå's parish priest Nikolaus Bozaeus. Work began in the mid-1650s, and sources differ slightly on when the building was completed and consecrated, with dates given as 1665 (Wikipedia) or around 1650 (Platser). It is generally described as the most well-preserved fishing chapel in Härnösand diocese, having survived largely unaltered since the late 17th century apart from a couple of windows replaced in the 1800s.
The chapel's outstanding feature is its painted ceiling, completed in 1699 by Roland Johansson Öberg, thought to have been the son of a farmer from Norra Ulvön. The folk-art scenes drawn from the Bible include Jesus in conversation with Nicodemus, Jacob wrestling with God's angel, and a boat scene showing Jesus and Peter fishing alongside John and James — imagery that would have resonated strongly with the seafaring congregation who built and used the chapel.
By the 18th century, Barsta's fishing settlement supported around a dozen fishermen, roughly half of them local and half seasonal visitors from Gävle. The chapel fell into disrepair over time but was restored in the 1930s, helping preserve its historic interior for later generations.
In recognition of its rarity and completeness, Barsta kapell was declared a byggnadsminne (listed heritage building) in 2011, the strongest form of protection a building can receive in Sweden. Today the chapel is cared for by a local chapel association formed in 1965, and it continues to be used occasionally for baptisms, weddings and an annual summer service.