Set in front of the calm presence of Papil Water, the present kirk was built in 1790 on the site of an older chapel. In fact, there is evidence of a Christian settlement in the area for many centuries. The name Papil is derived from the Celtic "Papa" meaning monk or father, and Celtic monks appear to have settled in the Tresta area from the 6th Century onward.
Very little documentation remains on the existence of an early parish of Fetlar, however we do know that, during the Reformation, the parish was united with that of North Yell with the kirk becoming Crocekirk (Cross Kirk), with 10 or 11 other chapels on Fetlar. Not much remains of the other chapels apart from traces of Halliora Kirk, Kirkhouse, and Urie which are still visible. Sadly, none of these have ever been fully investigated by archeological teams.
Further history of monastic Christian sites exist on Fetlar. One of the most researched is on the Outer Brough of Standburgh Ness in the north east corner of the island. A small stack seperated from the Fetlar mainland by a 12 metre ravine that drops 30 metres to the sea, and is only accessible nowadays by this route. This is believed to have housed a hermitic cell, associated with a larger monastic settlement on the Inner Brough. The larger settlement consists of 17 stone foundations which appear to have been a series of terraced cloisters, officially believed to be a monastic site for the Christian Norsemen who colonised the area. As other early Christians did, choosing to live in remote, exposed locations to concentrate their full energy on seeking God.