Man killed by falling sign at Christian festival named as church pays tribute

Pastor Killed When Festival Sign Toppled in Wind Near Steyning

Wanderstayfinder.com – A wooden overhead sign that had been blown loose by strong winds at a major Christian gathering in West Sussex fell onto the crowd on Friday, killing a 41-year-old pastor and injuring six others. Robert Guanco, who led Jesus Living Water church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Big Church festival (BCF), held near Steyning. Four of the six injured attendees were transported to hospital for treatment.

The sign, which bore the slogan “Everything’s Unmissable,” was described by witnesses as extremely heavy. Festivalgoers in the immediate vicinity reportedly rushed forward to lift the structure off those trapped beneath it while emergency services made their way through the grounds. The force of the wind that dislodged the overhead structure remains under investigation by authorities.

The Man Behind the Ministry

Guanco was not merely a name on a memorial notice. His congregation in Eastbourne identified him as “our beloved brother, friend and pastor” in a GoFundMe appeal launched to support his family in the aftermath. The church described the loss as “unimaginable” and offered a portrait of a man whose daily life was shaped by faith and service.

“Pastor Robert was a faithful servant of God, a loving husband to Isay, a devoted and caring father to Ellie, and a blessing to so many people whose lives he touched. His life, his faith, his love and his service to God will never be forgotten.”

The tribute continued by emphasising his role as mentor and friend, noting that his character was defined by “humility, faith, love, compassion and service.” The church added that through his ministry, prayers, and encouragement, he had touched countless lives, and that his passing was “deeply felt by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

A Festival Built for Scale

Big Church festival positions itself as the largest Christian event in the United Kingdom. First staged in 2009, the gathering combines worship sessions, live music, and a range of performances over a multi-day programme. The 2026 edition was scheduled to open on Friday and run through Sunday, drawing thousands of attendees to the West Sussex site near Steyning.

The scale of the event meant that the tragedy unfolded before a very large audience. Many attendees first learned of the incident not through official channels but when God TV, the festival’s broadcast partner, announced that the live stream had been paused “due to unforeseen circumstances.” For thousands watching remotely, that brief interruption carried the weight of what had just happened on the ground.

Organisers Cancel Remaining Days

Festival organisers issued a statement describing themselves as “heartbroken” and confirmed that all remaining programming had been cancelled. They said they were coordinating with Sussex Police, the Health and Safety Executive, and other bodies to establish the full circumstances of the collapse.

“We are devastated by the serious incident that took place at Big Church festival 2026, in which Pastor Robert Guanco tragically lost his life and others were injured. First and foremost, all of our thoughts are with those who have been affected, their families and friends, and everyone who witnessed what happened. Particularly with the family, friends and church of Pastor Guanco as they process the immense grief of his loss.”

The organisers added: “We are working with the police, the Health and Safety Executive and others as they establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

National and Ecclesiastical Responses

Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said she was “sad and shocked” by the event. In a brief public remark she offered prayers for Guanco’s family, for those receiving medical treatment, for the healthcare workers attending to them, and for the wider community of festivalgoers, staff, and organisers “as they come to terms with these tragic events.”

Sussex Police’s Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh urged anyone among the “thousands of people” present on Friday who possessed information or video footage of the collapse to come forward. He said the force’s thoughts remained with Guanco’s family, friends, and all others affected.

What Happens Next

The Health and Safety Executive’s involvement signals a formal inquiry into how the overhead structure was anchored, maintained, and monitored during the event. Questions will centre on wind-load calculations for temporary signage of that size, inspection protocols before each day’s programme, and whether any prior warnings had been issued to staff. The outcome of that review will inform whether similar structures at other large outdoor gatherings face new safety requirements.

For the Eastbourne congregation, the immediate focus is on Guanco’s wife Isay and daughter Ellie. The GoFundMe appeal set up by Jesus Living Water church is intended to cover practical costs in the weeks ahead while the family processes what the church called an “immense grief.” The community of Eastbourne, a coastal town of roughly 12,000 residents, has been described by local clergy as coming together in mourning, with services of remembrance expected in the coming days.

The Big Church festival, which had operated without a fatality in its seventeen editions since 2009, now faces the task of explaining to its audience what went wrong and how it will change. For the thousands who gathered near Steyning expecting worship and music, the memory of that Friday afternoon will be defined by the sound of wind, the sight of a heavy wooden structure swinging free, and the silence that followed.