The Christian community in the United Kingdom has been left grieving following the tragic death of Robert Guanco, a 41-year-old pastor who was killed after a large wooden sign fell during the Big Church Festival in West Sussex. Guanco, who served as a pastor at Jesus Living Water church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was remembered by his church as a loving husband, devoted father, faithful servant of God and a man whose kindness and ministry touched many lives. His death occurred during what was meant to be a weekend of worship, music and celebration, turning one of the country’s largest Christian gatherings into a scene of tragedy.
The incident happened on Friday at the Big Church Festival near Steyning, where thousands of people had gathered for worship, performances and Christian music. According to reports, a large overhead wooden sign was blown over in the wind and fell, killing Guanco and injuring six other people. Four of those injured were taken to hospital for treatment. Festivalgoers reportedly rushed to help after the sign fell, attempting to lift the heavy structure and assist those caught beneath or affected by the incident.
As news of Guanco’s death spread, tributes began pouring in from his church, festival organisers and members of the wider Christian community. Jesus Living Water church described him as its “beloved brother, friend and pastor,” while his family was left facing what the church described as an unimaginable loss. The tragedy also led organisers of the Big Church Festival to cancel the remainder of the event as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly accident.
Robert Guanco Remembered as a Loving Pastor, Husband and Father
Robert Guanco was 41 years old and served as a pastor at Jesus Living Water church in Eastbourne, East Sussex. While he was known within his church for his religious leadership and ministry, the tributes shared following his death painted a much broader picture of the man he was to those around him. His church remembered him not only as a pastor but also as a close friend, mentor and compassionate person whose faith influenced many people.
Jesus Living Water church paid tribute to Guanco through a fundraising campaign created to support his family following his death. The church described him as a faithful servant of God and spoke warmly about his dedication to both his family and his congregation. He was remembered as a loving husband to his wife, Isay, and a devoted and caring father to his daughter, Ellie.
The church said that Guanco’s life reflected humility, faith, love, compassion and service. According to the tribute, he had touched many lives through his ministry, prayers, encouragement and acts of kindness. For members of the church community, his death represented not only the loss of a pastor but also the loss of someone who had played an important personal role in the lives of many people.
Church members described him as someone who was willing to support others and offer guidance when it was needed. As a pastor, he was a spiritual leader, but the tribute also suggested that his influence extended beyond formal religious duties. He was remembered as a mentor and friend, someone whose presence had provided encouragement and comfort to people around him.
The church said his passing was deeply felt by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. For his family, friends and congregation, the sudden nature of his death added another layer of shock to an already devastating loss. What began as a Christian festival attended by worshippers from different communities ended with the unexpected death of a pastor who had dedicated much of his life to faith and service.
Dad killed by falling sign at UK festival is pictured as tributes pour in pic.twitter.com/nqdbLXjCX7
— The Sun (@TheSun) August 30, 2026
The fundraising campaign established by the church focused on helping his family during an extremely difficult period. The tribute emphasized the impact Guanco had made during his life and described him as a blessing to many people. His ministry, faith and personal relationships became central themes in the messages shared after his death.
Guanco’s death also brought together people from outside his immediate church community. The wider Christian community expressed sadness over the loss, while prayers and messages of support were directed toward his wife, daughter, friends and fellow church members. For those who knew him personally, the tributes reflected the memory of a man remembered for his faith, compassion and dedication to helping others.
How the Tragic Big Church Festival Incident Happened
The fatal incident occurred on Friday during the Big Church Festival, an event near Steyning in West Sussex that is billed as the UK’s biggest Christian festival. The annual gathering attracts thousands of people for a combination of worship, music, performances and other activities. The festival first took place in 2009 and has grown into a major event for Christian communities from across the country.
This year’s festival had opened on Friday and was scheduled to continue until Sunday. However, the event was cut short after the tragic accident that claimed Guanco’s life and injured six other people. Four of those injured were taken to hospital for treatment. According to accounts from people at the festival, a large wooden overhead sign was blown over by strong wind before falling. The sign reportedly carried the words “Everything’s Unmissable.” Witnesses described a chaotic scene as festivalgoers rushed to help and attempted to lift the heavy structure after it came down.
The sudden accident shocked people attending the festival. Thousands had gathered at the site expecting a weekend focused on worship and celebration, but the atmosphere quickly changed as emergency services responded to the incident. Many people were reportedly unaware of the full extent of the tragedy immediately after it happened. Some festivalgoers first became aware that something serious had occurred when God TV announced that the festival’s live stream had been paused due to “unforeseen circumstances.” As information emerged, it became clear that the interruption was connected to a major incident at the festival site.
The death of Robert Guanco and the injuries suffered by others prompted organisers to make the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the festival. The Big Church Festival organisers later issued a statement saying they were devastated and heartbroken by what had happened. They confirmed that Pastor Robert Guanco had tragically lost his life and that other people had been injured in the incident. Organisers said their thoughts were first and foremost with everyone affected, including the victims, their families, friends and those who witnessed the accident.
The statement placed particular emphasis on Guanco’s family, friends and church community as they began to process the immense grief caused by his death. Organisers said they were devastated by the serious incident and expressed their support for those who had been affected.
The cancellation of the festival marked an extraordinary end to an event that had been expected to continue throughout the weekend. Instead of the planned worship services, music and performances, attention turned toward emergency response efforts, the injured victims and the investigation into how the accident happened. The tragic incident also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the large structure and the impact of the weather conditions at the festival. Authorities have begun working to establish exactly what happened and whether any further action will be necessary following the investigation.
Tributes, Investigation and a Community in Mourning
Following Guanco’s death, tributes came from religious leaders, festival organisers and members of the Christian community. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, said she was sad and shocked by the tragedy. She offered prayers for Guanco’s family, friends and loved ones as they mourn his death. She also expressed concern for the people who were injured and receiving medical treatment, as well as the healthcare workers caring for them. Her message extended to other festivalgoers, staff members and event organisers who had witnessed or been affected by the tragedy.
For many people present at the festival, the emotional impact was likely to continue long after the event was cancelled. Witnessing a serious accident can be deeply distressing, particularly at an event that had brought people together for worship and celebration. The sudden loss of life changed the meaning of the weekend and left many attendees trying to come to terms with what they had seen.
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Sussex Police launched an investigation into the incident, and Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh expressed condolences to everyone affected. He said police thoughts remained with the family and friends of the man who died, as well as others impacted by the tragic events. Authorities have appealed to the thousands of people who attended the festival on Friday to come forward if they have information or video footage that could help investigators understand what happened. With such a large number of people present, police hope that witness accounts and recordings could provide important details about the moments leading up to the sign falling.
Big Church Festival organisers said they were working with Sussex Police, the Health and Safety Executive and other relevant authorities as the circumstances surrounding the incident are established. The involvement of multiple organisations reflects the seriousness of the accident and the need for a detailed investigation into how a large overhead sign came to fall. At this stage, the investigation is expected to examine the conditions surrounding the structure, including the weather and wind that witnesses said played a role in the sign being blown over. Authorities will also seek to establish a clear timeline of events and determine whether any safety issues contributed to the tragedy.
For the family of Robert Guanco, however, the investigation comes alongside an intensely personal loss. His wife, Isay, and daughter, Ellie, have been left without a husband and father. His church community has also lost a pastor described as a faithful servant of God and a person whose compassion had a lasting influence on those around him. The tributes shared after his death repeatedly focused on the way he treated people. He was remembered as someone whose ministry was built not only on religious leadership but also on friendship, kindness, prayer and encouragement. His church said his life and service to God would never be forgotten.
Robert Guanco’s death has therefore become more than a tragic headline about an accident at a major festival. For the people who knew him, it represents the loss of a husband, father, friend, mentor and pastor. His family must now navigate an unimaginable period of grief, while his church and wider community remember the role he played in their lives. As investigators continue working to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident, the Christian community remains focused on supporting those most deeply affected.
The six people injured in the incident, their families and the witnesses who experienced the tragedy are also part of a community now dealing with the emotional consequences of an unexpected disaster. The Big Church Festival was intended to be a place where thousands could gather through faith, worship and music. Instead, the 2026 event ended in mourning after a large sign fell and took the life of Pastor Robert Guanco. As tributes continue, those who knew him are remembering a man described as humble, compassionate and deeply committed to his family, his faith and the people he served.
His legacy, according to those closest to him, will remain in the lives he touched. For Jesus Living Water church, Robert Guanco will be remembered as a beloved pastor and brother in faith. For his friends, he was a mentor and source of encouragement. For his family, he was a loving husband and devoted father. And for the many people whose lives were touched by his kindness and ministry, his sudden death has left a loss that will be deeply felt for years to come.