Cathedral mourns sudden death of canon

Ely Cathedral has announced the sudden death of its canon precentor.

James Garrard had held the post at the Cambridgeshire cathedral since 2008.

He died suddenly on Monday, the Very Reverend Mark Bonney, Dean of Ely, announced.

He added that Mr Garrard would be sorely missed by all the staff, the choirs and the wider Diocese of Ely, which covers most of Cambridgeshire, the parts of Peterborough south of the Nene, and also parts of west Norfolk and a small number of parishes in Essex and Bedfordshire.

Known as Jim, the canon was head of the music and worship department, taking part in and organising the services which take place in the "ship of the Fens" every day.

He was also "the link with all the groups outside the cathedral who come for special services" — including the annual animal service and a service for those who have lost a child.

The traditional job title of Precentor derives from the Latin word for "the one who sings the prayers first" as the choir responds.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.