According to archival data, the church in Verkhne-Lalye may have originated as early as the 16th century. Initially, it was wooden and underwent multiple reconstructions. The modern church is consecrated in honor of Archistrategos Michael, the protector of the Russian military. The parish was formed no later than the second half of the 16th century, possibly even earlier. Exact information about the construction of the first church is lacking. In the "Acts of the Kholmogory and Ustyug Diocese," it is mentioned in 1625 when a priest from Verkhne-Lalye paid a tax of 40 white coins and 6 altyns 4 dengas. This indicates a small parish, comparable to others. Twenty years later, two church buildings are already mentioned.

The 1645 census book of the Solvychegodsky district states: "In the Lal volost on the Lala River, there is a pogost, the church of Archangel Michael, cold, and a warm church with a refectory of Procopius of Ustyug, and in the churches are local icons." The 1647 census book clarifies that there were a prosphora with residents, houses for the priest, deacon, and sexton, as well as houses for two half-keepers in the churchyard. Additionally, there were six peasant houses on church land. In 1710, the Upper Laly parish was mentioned in the Lal volost with a warm church of Procopius the Miracle Worker and Great Martyr George, as well as a cold church of the Holy Trinity and Archangel Michael. Near the church were six houses for the church clergy, a half-keeper, a watchman, and a prosphora with a prosphora-maker. The 1755 salary book mentions the Archangel church in the Verkhne-Lal volost.

In 1788, the parish had 1,125 people, and in 1868, 2,189 people. Since 1791, by decree of the Vologda Spiritual Consistory, the Verkhne-Lal Michael-Archangel church was transferred to the jurisdiction of Usolye. According to the staff approved in 1855, the church was to have one priest with a deacon and a psalmist, but later a sexton position was added. From 1874, the staff included a rector, a priest, and two psalmists, with the priest, deacon, and sexton actually receiving salaries.

From August 1915, the church staff consisted of two priests, a deacon, two psalmists, and a prosphora-maker. The construction of a new church building began in 1896 and continued until 1906. The main building of the warm church with a bell tower was completed after 1905. Later, a summer church of Procopius the Righteous of Ustyug was added, which was used as an altar during the summer. The construction was complicated, and even in 1909, the interior decoration work was not completed.

The church was built on the site of an old cemetery where a stone church already stood. In the description of churches in the Solvychegodsky district in 1854, a two-story stone church with one dome is mentioned. The lower part was consecrated in honor of Procopius of Ustyug in 1774, and the upper part, in honor of Archistrategos Michael in 1784. The stone bell tower was built in 1828. Before these churches, wooden churches stood on this site. After reconstruction, the Church of Archangel Michael became warm. The reconstruction was necessary due to problems with the foundation and bell tower. In 1874, the bell tower had a lean and was propped up, and the wooden staircase to the second floor was dilapidated. The church's foundation weakened, and it was decided to build a more spacious and beautiful stone church with a metal roof and a high bell tower. The ringing of the bells from the 30-meter bell tower could be heard from a distance of 30 kilometers. The construction was carried out by parishioners who raised funds for the building. A significant contribution was made by merchant Nikolai Tokmakov.

Exact amounts contributed for the construction are unknown, but it is assumed that they were in rubles and kopecks. Contributions were made as needed. Documents regarding the financing of the construction by the church leadership have not been found; it is likely that the construction was funded by the residents. The "Vologda Diocesan Gazette" dated September 15, 1896, mentions that peasant Nikolai Tokmakov donated 1,000 rubles for the expansion of the church, and peasant Evdokia Gundyukhina, 100 rubles. These large contributions were made at the beginning of the construction. Later, the construction required regular contributions, and large sums were not accumulated. Memories assert that the bell for the church was provided by Nikolai Alexandrovich. It was made to his order in the city of Slobodsk, weighed 360 poods, and the clapper, 12 poods. Up to fifteen horses participated in the transportation. The bell was raised in 1897 with the participation of all the residents.

The "Diocesan Gazette" of 1910 reports on a donation of 900 rubles from Nikolai Tokmakov for the arrangement of the iconostasis and 100 rubles for memorial services. With the efforts of the parishioners, a pit was dug for the foundation of the new church on the site of the old cemetery. Stones were laid along the contour of the building and the fence. Bricks were made from local material, clay was taken nearby and fired in kilns. A shed was built for brick making. A poultry yard was built in the cemetery area, from which white protein was taken for the mortar.

The masonry progressed quickly, but in 1901, a fire destroyed the workers' house, three barns, and other buildings. The damage amounted to about 600 rubles. The church building gradually rose, but the old church interfered, which was dismantled. In 1900, the second floor was dismantled, and the material was used for school construction. In 1903, the school was put into operation. The building was called the "White School." Currently, it is not in use, the interior work is unfinished, and the foundation is destroyed.

There is an opinion that the old church was dismantled after the new one was built, but measurements of the interior space refute this version. The clerical record of 1905 confirms that the old church was dismantled due to the dilapidation of the foundation. The upper floor was dismantled in 1900, and the first floor in 1905. A thousand rubles were donated for the construction of the school. Brick carving was used to decorate the walls, the interior walls were plastered, and colored glass was used. Local residents were engaged in the interior work. The icon painter was N.D. Rabotinsky, who also gilded the frames on the icons.