<P> Christianity was introduced by European missionaries as early as the 1550s, when Portuguese mercenaries and their chaplain arrived in Ayutthaya . Historically, it has played a significant role in the modernisation of Thailand, notably in the social and educational institutions (e.g., orphanages, schools, and colleges). It represents 0.7% of the national population . The first modern surgery was introduced by Dr. Dan Beach Bradley, a 19th - century American missionary who also produced the first Thai - script printing press and started the first Thai newspaper . </P> <P> Thailand's Department of Religion, currently under the Ministry of Culture, has formally recognized five major Christian churches / denominations: the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptists, the Seventh - day Adventists, the Church of Christ in Thailand, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand . Although the national budget for religious purposes has historically been designated for Buddhist structures, facilities, and activities, since at least the mid-1980s it has provided token amounts for Christian programs . Although not officially recognised, missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints (Mormons) have been active in Thailand for decades, though their converts are comparatively few . </P> <P> There are a growing group of evangelical foreign missionaries and residents who are establishing churches and prayer groups throughout Thailand . Another missionary organization, OMF International, has a program to place Christian teachers in the kingdom's schools . Their efforts so far have had a negligible effect . </P> <P> Jewish community life in Thailand dates to the 17th century, with the arrival of a few Baghdadi Jewish families . The present community consists of both Ashkenazi (for instance the expatriate community plus some descendants of refugees from Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union), and Sephardi Jews, who were born in such places as Afghanistan and Iran and Syria (who many years ago were refugees) and wealthy gem traders . Most of the Jewish community in Thailand, consisting of an estimated 2,000 residents, reside in Bangkok, although there is at any given time thousands of tourists (some long - term) primarily from Israel . There are Jewish synagogues are in Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Ko Samui, but no community there . </P>

What are the other practising religions of thailand