Construction began in September 1720, with stone laid by the provincial governor, but progress was slow: limestone came from Öland and brick from a works at Verkö, and it took until 1744 for the church to be consecrated, with the future King Adolf Fredrik and Princess Lovisa Ulrika in attendance. Despite this royal connection, the church is actually named after King Fredrik I, Adolf Fredrik's predecessor. The twin towers, originally intended to carry spires, were not finished until 1758.
A serious fire swept through the town in 1790, bringing down the roof and the bell timbers. The church's large brass chandelier fell during the blaze; it was later repaired and rehung at the parish's expense. Restoration after the fire, including a new copper roof, was overseen by the architect Olof Tempelman, and further internal works followed in the early twentieth century and again in the 1960s.
The most dramatic change came with a major renovation completed in 2018, intended to turn the baroque interior into a flexible, multi-purpose space. Fixed pews were removed in favour of loose chairs specially designed for the church, upholstered in taut cowhide with built-in acoustic damping. A section of floor between the nave and chancel can be raised to form a platform for performances, concealing storage and archive space beneath when lowered. Six niches along the nave now serve as informal spaces for quiet reflection, conversation or small exhibitions.//Sources differ slightly on how this renovation is described, though both agree on its scale and intent.