The paper explores the basic fundamental and applied objectives associated with the study of the wooden church architecture of the Russian North of the last centuries (late 18^th - early 20^th) - a period understudied in the domestic science. The authors provide sources for the research; specific examples show the features of the ongoing archival and field studies of the wooden monuments in Onega and Kargopol districts of Arkhangelsk region, identify the core theoretical areas of research focused on the wooden temple construction in the Russian North of the late period.