It was first performed at the Birmingham Music Festival on 3 October 1906, with the orchestra conducted by the composer, and soloists Agnes Nicholls, Muriel Foster, John Coates and William Higley.
Elgar had been planning a work depicting the Apostles as ordinary men, reacting to extraordinary events, for many years.
Its most memorable moments are the ecstatic depiction of Pentecost, Mary's glowing aria The sun goeth down, and the devotional setting of the Lord's Prayer.
Novello's published a book of the words, with analytical and descriptive notes by Elgar's friend August Jaeger.
Some of Elgar's more percipient supporters, including Adrian Boult, consider it his greatest choral work, of more consistent quality than even Gerontius.