The Apostles (Elgar) many delays, Elgar finally started formal composition of the music in mid-December 1902. Composition of the work in vocal-score format was complete by the end of June 1903, with scoring complete on 17 August. "The Apostles "is a narrative work, dealing with the calling of the Apostles and their experiences of Jesus' preaching, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. "The Kingdom" would carry the story onward. Elgar was more interested in human motivations than philosophical underpinnings, and two of the most prominent characters in the work are the two sinners Mary Magdalene and Judas Iscariot. Elgar's conception outgrew the confines of
Church of the Holy Apostles Rectory and cemetery. The house, though, remained in separate ownership from the church until recently. Later owners include James T. Aldrich and Dr. Angus Bethune Patterson, who both served in the South Carolina General Assembly. Church of the Holy Apostles Rectory The Church of the Holy Apostles Rectory is an historic Carpenter Gothic house located at 1700 Hagood Avenue in Barnwell, South Carolina, On April 13, 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is also known as the Roberts House, the Old Patterson House, or The Rectory. The Rev. Edwin Wagner, first rector of the Church