Why were chapels and churches sometimes used instead of purpose-built lighthouses in Great Britain?

During the medieval period in Great Britain, coastal churches and chapels were frequently used as substitutes for purpose-built lighthouses. These structures served as navigational aids because their elevated positions and prominent architecture made them effective landmarks for mariners navigating coastal waters.1

At that time, the construction of dedicated lighthouse towers was limited, and existing religious buildings provided a convenient and established means of warning mariners of hazards or guiding them toward harbors without the need for new, specialized infrastructure.1