An earlier church was built on a hill[REF] in the hundred Haldherred[REF] probably in the 12th century, and is known from the 13th century as Essenbæk (Eskingbec)[REF] - a name which perhaps refers to the present Volkmølle Creek (Volkmølle Bæk) [REF].
When the art historian N. L. Høyen in 1830 visited Essenbæk Church, he drew e.g. its baptismal font [REF].