William Hague has acknowledged that he is not a regular Sunday churchgoer but rather worships God in less formal surroundings, and in particular as he walks through the Yorkshire Dales.
The Tory leader, who has promised that a Tory government would give churches a more central role in tackling social problems, made his remarks in an interview for BBC 1's Songs of Praise, to be screened this Sunday.
Mr Hague, MP for Richmond, speaks of his love of Wensleydale, which he described as the most attractive part of Britain.
Asked about whether he has a faith, Mr Hague said: "Yes, I am a Christian. I feel closer to God in these hills, in these these Dales than anywhere else."
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