The Antioch Christian Church was organized about 1856 by Elder Thomas
Marcus Harris, who was once a Methodist minister. After much study and
questioning of his faith, Harris began to form churches throughout
Washington County and Georgia known today as the Christian Church or
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) . Antioch was first known as a
Disciples church, associated with the early Campbellite Church. It later
became known as the Antioch Christian Church. Thomas Marcus Harris had
been engaged to preach in Oconee near a place where a country
"grog-shop" was conducted, at a point where two little branches came
together. It was called "Two-heads." He engaged to speak there but had
no house, so the grog-shop held the first meeting. The people put up a
brush arbor with puncheons for seats and Harris preached there for three
or four weeks. The grog-shop was eventually chased out, and the
residents formed a congregation of Christians there. The new church
flourished and many were added to the membership. The church was named
'Antioch' after the ancient city in Syria where many early converts were
brought to Christianity. Mrs. Fannie Hardison donated the lad upon which
the first building was erected in 1857. There was no Baptistry in the
original building, so Baptismal services were conducted in nearby Sand
Hill Creek, until about 1900 when a pool was built in back of the
current location. In September of 1968, Antioch Christian Church
withdrew from the Disciples of Christ. It is now an independent
congregation.