Owl Rock Church was founded in 1828 by Richmond Barge and other members of the Mutual Rights faction who withdrew from Mount Gilead Methodist Episcopal Church. It was named for an eight foot natural rock behind the building that closely resembles an owl. The church took part in four distinct phases of Methodism in Georgia, serving as an Associated Methodist Church from 1828 to 1830, a Methodist Protestant Church from 1830 to 1916, a Methodist Episcopal Church, South, from 1916 to 1939, and since 1939 a Methodist Church. The Annual Conference session of the Methodist Protestant Church was held there in 1900. During the Battle of Atlanta, many skirmishes were fought in the area, and the church is mentioned frequently in the Official Records. Following the War Between the States, the church sponsored an elementary public school. In 1921, the Sandtown School was created through the consolidation of the Owl Rock, Boat Rock, and Sandtown schools.