Military culture certainly had an impact on cross-cultural relations and shaped the general impression of the British colony. A central project of the colonial administration was financial, reordering Egypt's finances from bankruptcy to solvency. That project was built upon the export of cotton. Being theoretical, the conservative vision of colonial social relations bore little resemblance to reality. Egyptians elites recognised the 'arrogance' of administrators, particularly Lord Cromer and Herbert Kitchener, as well as the range of opinion and disagreements within colonial circles. Douglas M.Thornton imagined the Church as a vehicle for greater social engagement and cultural interaction with Egyptians, principally through schools and hospitals, with the ultimate goals of conversion and the extension of the Anglican congregation among Egyptians. The purpose of the bishopric in Egypt was to confer 'dignity' on the British colony and reflect the increasing number of British personnel in government, commerce, and engineering projects.