BUXTON – First Congregational Church in Buxton, finished and dedicated in 1822, plans to repair its period windows, maintaining the historical appearance of the landmark, which also features wooden clapboards.

Known as Tory Hill Church, it is of the same era as the University of Southern Maine Art Galley, built in 1821. Both buildings are in the National Register of Historic Places, and the two buildings feature similar, large windows, with each containing 20 panes of glass on both the upper and lower window frames. But renovations to the Buxton building will be in keeping with its historical nature.

Tory Hill Church trustee Jim Dearborn said Tuesday it has plans to repair and re-glaze its 16 large windows at a cost of $22,000. He said the windows are in bad shape.

The church has six of the large windows on each side, with two more on the front and two on the back. Dearborn said the old glass is wavy and has “a lot of character.”

Dearborn said the church’s original clapboards were replaced with wooden ones many years ago and present-day shutters are wooden replicas of originals.

When asked whether the church would consider vinyl siding, which is the plan for the USM Art Gallery, Dearborn said, “Not in my lifetime.”

He said new buildings are made differently from historic ones.

“Vinyl prevents an old building from breathing,” Dearborn said.

The church was built on the site of a forerunner, and it has a historical committee that oversees preservation.

The First Congregational Church of Buxton, known as Tory Hill Church, has plans to repair and re-glaze its 16 windows, costing $22,000. Dedicated in 1822, the church, which has wooden clapboards, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.