The place of the Mercersburg Theology in American religious history has been widely recognized.... It is usually viewed as one of the unique movements in 19th century American Protestantism, principally because it challenged many of the prevailing theological ideas and practices of the time. Two surveys of American religious history have described it as a "theologically and liturgically creative high church movement" (Robert T. Handy) and as the "most creative manifestation of the Catholic tendency" (Sydney E. Ahlstrom) among 19th century American Protestants.