Built to replace the Old Church, the sprawling Young J. Allen Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was dedicated in 1910. Its namesake was quite famous in church circles.

Young John Allen (1836-1907), or Young J. Allen as more often written, was born in Burke County, to a father who died before his birth and a mother who died soon afterward, according to Findagrave. He was raised by a maternal aunt in the Primitive Baptist tradition of his family but converted to Methodism at the age of 17. An 1858 honor graduate of Emory College, he married Mary Houston (1838-1927), a native of Coweta, a day after commencement. In 1859, Young sold his land and slaves and sailed for Shanghai with his wife and infant daughter. While taking numerous jobs to support his family during the early years in China, he engaged in missionary work, translated many religious texts, established newspapers and periodicals, and founded several school. He made many trips back to the United States to report on his mission work but would never make a permanent return.

Alexander F. N. Everett, a prominent Atlanta architect, was responsible for the eclectic Beaux Arts design.

Oxford Historic District, National Register of Historic Places