Massive damage was done to Manchester Cathedral on 15 June when a bomb went off in the city centre. The bomb was planted in a lorry outside the Arndale Centre shopping centre by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). More than 200 people were injured. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Christopher Mayfield, was at a meeting with other Church leaders when the incident happened. Soon afterwards he said that the IRA needed "to hear that they are living in a fantasy world. They need to renounce their weapons, renounce terrorism and get down to listening and talking peace with others as concerned about Ireland as they are."

The bill for repairs to the Cathedral is likely to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds - but the building may not have enough insurance to meet the expenses.

The following Saturday the Cathedral was open for an ecumenical service for the whole community. Two thousand people attended.