First Parish Church Brunswick, Maine

First Parish in Brunswick was designed by the New York City architect Richard Upjohn. Constructed in 1850, this church is a unique example of Gothic Revival architecture in a wooden structure. The facility is comprised of vertical board and batten siding with decorative wood trim elements and details throughout. The church served as the campus worship cen- ter for neighboring Bowdoin College for most of the 19th century. It is also renowned for being the place where Harriet Beecher Stowe received her inspiration for the story of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The restoration project consisted of extensive exterior carpentry repairs, copper detailing and structural work. The acces- sible entrance was removed from the main tower entrance and more appropriately integrated into a porch addition at the Parish House. Site improvements were also made to improve exterior drainage and to restore the facility’s integrity after years of deferred maintenance.

This project received a 2006 Maine Preservation Honor Award.

M I L L S   W H I T A K E R   A R C H I T E C T S