Tragic Incident at Big Church Festival Claims Life of Pastor
A tragic accident at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex resulted in the death of Pastor Robert Guanco, as revealed during a recent inquest. The 41-year-old pastor from Eastbourne died after a large wooden arch collapsed.
The incident occurred on 28 August near Steyning, causing injuries to six other individuals, four of whom required hospitalization.
During the inquest opening in Brighton, coroner’s officer Alex Jones explained that the structure had fallen across a temporary road, hitting festival attendees. A post-mortem examination identified multiple severe injuries and blunt force trauma as the provisional cause of death.
Originally from the Philippines, Guanco dedicated his life to serving as a pastor at Jesus the Living Water Church in Eastbourne, while also working as a healthcare assistant.
Condolences were extended to the family by Area Coroner Joseph Turner, who adjourned the proceedings. A pre-inquest review is expected to take place on 9 March 2027 in Horsham.
Isaeli, Guanco’s widow, expressed to the BBC her hope that understanding the circumstances of the incident would “help us grieve” and prevent similar tragedies for other families.
Guanco’s funeral was held last Friday at his church, where he was remembered as “a faithful servant of God”, “a loving husband to Isay”, and “a devoted and caring father to Ellie”.
His church praised him as a blessing to many, acknowledging his life, faith, love, and service to God.
A fundraising initiative to support Guanco’s family has amassed over £243,000 in donations.
The unfortunate event led organizers to cancel the rest of the festival. They expressed their sorrow over Guanco’s passing, while Churches Together in England offered prayers, stating, “We stand with the whole church in our nation in collective grief.”
Horsham District Council is conducting an investigation into the collapse. A spokesperson informed the BBC that “a number of lines of inquiry are still being pursued.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
