The Truro Cathedral community has bid farewell to Canon Perran Gay, who, in one way or another, has been associated with the Cathedral for nearly 25 years.

During his sermon on Sunday, based on the Gospel story of doubting Thomas, Canon Perran talked about the importance of having doubts because they acted like "ants in the pants" of faith, being not faith’s opposite, but instead provoking us to fresh explorations of our walk with God.

For the last 14 years, Perran has been the Canon Precentor, the person responsible for all acts of worship in the cathedral, and after the service the Dean of Truro, the Very Revd Roger Bush, referred to Perran as being a "Rembrandt" of worship, someone who was not only a highly skilled craftsman in devising services but also someone who added real significance to what the service could do, helping them to be experiences that could change lives, just like a great work of art could do. His skills as a liturgist have been recognised nationally where he is seen as one of the foremost craftsmen in his field.

Dean Roger also commended Perran for his friendship and support, as well as being someone who was courageous and thoughtful in willing to test his vocation in new ways, and not to rest content with where he was and what he had achieved.

In his response, Perran thanked everyone who had helped him throughout his time at the cathedral, saying that it had been a time of immense importance to him. He also thanked his wife, Rainy, for being a source of invaluable and constant loving support to him. The Junior Church of the Cathedral presented him with decorated candles, and he was also presented with a cartoon, painted by Primrose Peacock, as well as a cope made by Anne Pengelly with embroidery by Hayley Preston, detailing Cornish and Cathedral life, and a pair of curlews carved by the well-known Cornish wood carver, Geoffrey Bickley.

Canon Perran is to take up his new post as chaplain to the Isles of Scilly in the autumn.