A sign from God
Pastor killed by falling sign at Christian festival identified
Robert Guanco, 41, was described by his Eastbourne church as a ‘faithful servant of God’
A pastor who was killed by a falling sign at a Christian festival in West Sussex has been identified.
Jesus the Living Water Church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, paid tribute to Robert Guanco, 41, after he was killed by a large wooden sign at Big Church Festival (BCF) near Steyning on Friday afternoon.
Organisers of the BCF, described as Britain’s biggest Christian festival, said they were “devastated by the serious incident”, which also injured six others.
In a statement, the evangelical church described Guanco as a “faithful servant of God”, saying: “We are mourning, grieving, praying and trusting in the Lord during this incredibly difficult time.
“There are many things we may never fully understand, and our hearts may struggle to make sense of what has happened. Yet, even in our deepest sorrow, we continue to trust in the sovereignty of God.”
It added: “His life, his faith, his love and his service to God will never be forgotten.”
Guanco is survived by his wife Isay and daughter Ellie, Premier Christian News reported.
Witnesses said that festival-goers rushed to lift a heavy sign which read “Everything’s Unmissable” after it fell on visitors.
Edited on 30/08/2026 at 14:52:38.
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