Is there really any point in building Churches and Cathedrals?

[Silver]

I know in Crusader a Church gives you a +1 popularity bonus and a Cathedral a +2 popularity bonus, but in Stronghold this is not the case. So what gives? These buildings are expensive as heck, do they at least make % faster or is it simply for pretty reasons? I.e. in terms of gameplay just built chapels?

[Rakso]

In Stronghold 1 they give the same but the develop of the game is wrong-made so those churches will give you the bonus only when 90% of your peasants is blessed, but if you keep intend to grow your economy bigger and bigger it will never happen so the Churches and Cathedrals are completly useless.