You are correct that the churchj would benefit from a shrine in a position of high traffic in the home state of one of your enemies. I personally haven't seen the shrine's location in Ashtan but the one placed in Hashan was place in a very centralized high traffic position (our Founders' Monument) with would make your last point on shrines null and void.

Othello Amara

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Glacian, in the year 246 AF.