[en] We propose a perturbational method of solving the Faddeev equation in coordinate space, using as the basis set the first Sturm-Liouville function with two-body energies ranging from the total three-body energy to a judiciously chosen value. The two-body wave matrix (not the t-matrix) is decomposed into a separable term and a non-separable term. Treating the latter term as perturbation, the Faddeev equation is expressed as a matrix equation of a rather small dimensionality. The method is demonstrated for the three-nucleon bound state using the ¹S₀ Reid soft core potential and a regularized central ³S₁ potential which reproduces the two-nucleon data up to -- 300 MeV. (auth.)