 Already September 4, 1424 the church was called Old Essenbæk (Gamel Essenbæk; "Gammel Essenbæk"), and was then owned by Essenbæk Abbey, which together with its estate was confiscated by the king in 1540.When the abbey was later torn down, its bell was taken to the church.Christen Skel Jørgensen bought September 7, 1678 ”the church’s share of the tithe of the mentioned parishes, the appurtenant easement over the parsonages and the smallholdings of the parish clerks and all of the churches’ adjoining land estate and other appurtenant easement and the right of presentation” ("Kirkens Andel af Tienden af de nævnte Sogne, Herligheden over Præstegaardene og Degnebolene og alt Kirkernes tilliggende Jordegods og anden Herlighed samt Kaldsretten") including e.g.